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- ‘Windywood’ property expands 4-H camp’s footprint, programs
Tobie Blanchard, Landry, Kimberly Marie, Eskew, Eric A.
News Release Distributed 07/10/09
LSU AgCenter’s 4-H camp near Pollock, La., increased its size to 82 acres as the Louisiana 4-H Foundation donated a vacant piece of property for camp expansion.
The 30-acre addition was Camp Windywood, a former Girl Scout camp and adjacent to the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center.
Eric Eskew, executive director of the 4-H Foundation turned over the property deed to LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson at a ceremony at the camp on July 9.
“We’re going to do everything within our power to use this land to develop one of the best 4-H programs imaginable,” Richardson said.
Plans for the property include a rifle and shotgun range and an educational building with laboratory facilities.
“This property is going to focus on science, engineering and technology programs for 4-H, and a lot of the outdoor educational programs,” Eskew said. “We have a pond here that the National Guard helped us dig, where a lot of wetland education is going to happen.”
The Louisiana National Guard also conducted the demolition of condemned buildings on the property. BP America donated money that helped the 4-H Foundation pay off the mortgage of the property.
“We are happy to be a part of this project,” said Karl Connor, BP America’s governmental affairs director. “The activities that take place here are important to the state’s vitality.”
The Grant Walker Center is not just for 4-H camp, said Kim Landry, the center’s director. Events take place at the facility all year long. This expansion will allow the center to offer more opportunities.
“This property doubles the number of programs we can have out here and increases the diversity of what we can offer, to not only 4-H’ers, but also for events such as meetings and corporate retreats,” Landry said.