Campfire Weekend

Our Annual Campfire is a weekend-long event held each year in the Spring. The campfire takes place at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, approximately 6 miles north of Jackson, Ohio. The event consists of a progressive multi-year program in which youth learn the basics of fishing, conservation, and preservation from our membership of experienced anglers and outdoorsmen. Youth finish the program by building their own filet knife, landing net, and/or spincasting rod. The culmination of their instruction is an opportunity to spend the day fishing offsite with a Master Fisherman.

The 2024 Campfire Weekend will take place Memorial Day weekend, May 24th-26th.

Accommodations

The program takes place at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp. Full meals, lodging, and ample fishing opportunities are provided. Numerous gifts and prizes for each youth, including tackle, tackle boxes, fishing accessories, and more. Each year, the on-site pond is restocked with hundreds of trout, ensuring that there are plenty of fish for each youth to catch.

Activities

Our programs teach skills such as knot tying, rigging and using live bait, jig and spinner building, dry fly tying, stream bed entomology, and more. Sponsors attend classes alongside their youth! We also teach casting techniques, fly fishing, water quality surveys, fish identification, fish cleaning, and allow for plenty of open fishing time for youths.

Contact

President
Jeremy Kehres
(614) 657-8937
[email protected]

Location

Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp
1362 Caves Road
Jackson, OH 45640

Sponsors

Youth Anglers of Ohio is supported by the generosity of the following organizations:

  • Headhunters, Inc.
  • The Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  • Old Dutchman Bait & Tackle: Westerville, Ohio
  • Columbus Wholesale Fish Bait

2024 Campfire Weekend

This year’s spring campfire is May 24-26, 2024 (Memorial Day Weekend) at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp.  Registration will begin Friday afternoon at 2:00pm with the program starting at 8:00pm. 

To register online, please complete the digital application below. Submit one application per student. The application is completed via Google Forms. Submit secure payment for your application fees using the links below via Square.

Online Campfire Weekend Application

Please submit your applications as soon as possible!
Apply online before May 1, 2024 and youth participants attend FREE OF CHARGE!

Access the online application here: 2024 Campfire Weekend Online Application

Application Fees

Paper Campfire Weekend Application

If you prefer to submit a paper/physical application, please download, print, and complete the forms below.

If you plan to be there early, please bring a covered dish for a potluck dinner, and make or re-acquaint yourself with some good friends. If you have special dietary needs, please submit your specific requirements with the application.

Note also…

  • No Fishing on the pond before 3pm on Friday
  • No adults fishing on the pond (early mornings included) until Sunday unless you are actively helping a youth to fish – hand your rod to them to let them land it.
  • All members are to be off the property by 12 Noon on Sunday.