Lewis Cottage is the first cottage built on the property.
Planners thought that Lewis Cottage would be located close to the first dining hall, which in 1922 was in the flat area near the old mill. Lewis Cottage was completed in November 1922 and dedicated on July 27, 1923. The building was made of everlasting cypress, which represents the “hang on spirit.” A mill stone was placed in the foundation. The cottage was remodeled in 1948, when an addition replaced the original patio. It was updated again in 2002 to include ADA accessibility for both access, and restroom and shower facilities. In 2022, additional work was done to make repairs and improvements to the foundation. Today it has 42 beds with a private room in the back.
The first Council Circle is built.
Considered to be the heart of the 4-H Camping program, the first Council Circle was built. The present Council Circle was laid out in the mid-1920s. Many traditions and customs of Council Circle date from those early years and have evolved as the program has evolved through the years. The traditional story of the selection of the site is that two young campers were walking through some woods and found an ideal spot and went back to tell “Uncle Charlie” Hartley about it. Unfortunately, there was a tree which was in the center of the spot, meaning that although it was perfect, they would either have to cut down the beautiful tree or find another spot. That night a large storm came through and the tree fell, removing the obstacle from their midst. With that Council Circle became one of the most important sites on campus. In 2015, a large renovation significantly upgraded the entire council circle area including permanent benches (color-coded for the “tribes” that the West Virginia 4-H uses to subdivide 4-H members for various activities), concrete ramps to help with accessibility for all campers, a new fire pit and a walkway around the circle itself. These upgrades mean that campers at 4-H camps will continue to enjoy this tradition for years to come.
The Campus Green was laid out.
The Campus Green or main field, was laid out with the efforts of early campers and staff. Over the years the field has seen volleyball courts, baseball/softball fields, as well as flower beds and other activities. Most notably, the WVU Mountaineer Football Team practiced in the open field during summer the first summer (1922) which helped with the early development of camp as the Athletic Department contributed the building of a bathroom and shower facility for the team which was also for the use of the early campers. Today, many groups use the field for many activities including band camps practicing their routines in the field, as well as being part of the new disc golf course.