A quarter of a century ago, a gathering of NC State Extension representatives, state and local officials, and community leaders officially opened the Eastern 4-H Center on the banks of the Albemarle Sound in Tyrrell County.

With its coastal location and resort-like amenities, the new facility was ideally situated to fulfill NC 4-H’s mission of positive youth development, leadership and responsibility. It would be a place where youth could enjoy the fun and educational opportunities available at summer camp, and also serve as a year-round conference and learning center.

“We wanted to build a top quality center where young people could experience the best we have to offer,” said Mike Davis, Extension’s 4-H state program leader at the time. “They could go to a retreat-type center on the coast to have a pristine experience and enjoy nature. A team of people found this site on the Albemarle Sound, a beautiful site and a safe environment where kids could do water sports and enjoy the flora and fauna around there.”

Davis returned to the Eastern 4-H Center in May with a group of dignitaries, including NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Garey Fox and NC State Extension director David Monks, to celebrate the facility’s 25th birthday.

“It was very festive,” Davis said. “It was a celebration of the power of people and the power of place.”

The power of place is obvious to anyone who has been to the center. The waterfront location affords breathtaking views and offers distinctive learning experiences.

“It is really special,” said Angela Brisson, Extension Assistant for 4-H camps with NC State Extension. “It's on Bulls Bay there on the Albemarle Sound, which is a stunningly beautiful place. There are beautiful sunsets and it's a unique kind of ecosystem where kids get to come and learn about coastal ecology and spend time connecting with nature.”

The power of people is a frequent theme with Davis. The center went from dream to reality because of a collaboration between CALS and Extension leadership, politicians such as Vernon James and Marc Basnight, and a public-private partnership that included funding from the state of North Carolina and contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals across the state.

Equally as important was involving local residents in planning, fundraising and staffing.

“From the very beginning we wanted to create a sense of integration with the community on the planning committees, on the fundraising committees,” Davis said. “And hiring a lot of local people so they would have a sense of pride. That's something I've been most excited about over the years, to see the pride those people have working with children from all over North Carolina.”

The Eastern 4-H Center is one of three premier youth camps operated by NC State University, along with the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Rockingham County and Millstone 4-H Camp in Richmond County.

All offer summer camping fun and year-round educational experiences that help develop the life skills necessary for today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders.

The Eastern 4-H Center is the youngster of the trio. Millstone opened in 1939, and Betsy-Jeff Penn celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024.

“It very much has the feel of a conference or a retreat center,” Brisson said. “All of the buildings are very modern air-conditioned spaces with lots of natural light. It has a less traditional or rustic camp feel to it. That really sets it apart from the other camps in our system.”

While it is newer and more modern, it does have some very important things in common with the other 4-H centers.

“We're grounded in the mission of positive youth development,” Brisson said. “While the programming might look a little different than our other camps, we're still focused on getting kids outside, helping them learn leadership and responsibility, and how to work in a community of peers. That's what the facility is rooted in.”

A quarter century has been long enough to develop traditions and grow roots.

“It has developed a community and now we have people who were campers that are now coming back to be staff,” Brisson said. “We’re getting that transfer from one generation to the next.”

In addition to traditional summer camps, the Eastern 4-H Center provides various specialty camps including Camp Canvasback, which educates young hunters on waterfowl conservation and shooting sports; Operation Purple Camp and Camp Corral, for youth from military families; Cloverbud Camp for ages 5–7; and Camp Bridges, held in conjunction with the Ruby Bridges Foundation.

The facility also supports school field trips centered on coastal ecology, quilting weekends, sports retreats for high school, college and travel teams and can be rented for parties, family reunions, weddings and other events that focus on community and celebrate the spirit that led to the centers creation.

The 25th anniversary was celebrated at the annual On the Dock of the Bay event, which raises funds for camp scholarships.

“It really did feel like an event that both honored the history and looked to a bright future for the Eastern 4-H Center and the young people that go to camp there,” Brisson said.