I got to talk briefly with Dr. Culberson the day he arrived, and he told me he'd been coming to this camp for 22 years now because he got such great satisfaction working with such an outstanding group of students, all poised to go off to college, all so hard-working and bright. Jason holds 4 patents and runs a lab for NASA designing the first space plane, single stage to orbit vehicle. While I was there, there was also a reunion going on of past delegates, and that really blew me away. Since I was fortunate enough to experience the camp firsthand as a guest, I can see how it can be a life- changing experience at a crucial time in a young person's life. The facility itself is a rustic 4-H camp that was originally constructed bythe Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Delegates sleep in bunkhouse- style cabins with separate bath houses.
It's all light-hearted and fun, and gives the delegates a chance to show off their artistic sides, too. There is just non-stop activity at this camp, and I was so sorry I had to leave. Science was never my thing in school, but I sure enjoyed the way it is presented at this unique place. They also go on amazing field trips, highlighted by a trip to Washington, D.C. where Senator Robert Byrd hosts a senate luncheon for delegates and their senators. They also visit the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, and as many places as they cram in to their schedule.