Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center facts for kids
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Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center
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Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center entrance, March 2013
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1267 4-H Camp Road; Route 2, Box 630 near Appomattox, Virginia |
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| Area | 11.17 acres (4.52 ha) |
| Built | 1937-1938 |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000091 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 15, 2011 |
The Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center is a special place located near Appomattox, Virginia. It is also known as Surrender Grounds Forest and Holiday Lake 4-H Camp. This center is found within the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest.
Contents
Building the Camp: A New Deal Project
The Holiday Lake 4-H camp was first built in 1937. It was created by workers from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program started during the New Deal. The New Deal was a series of programs in the 1930s to help Americans during the Great Depression.
WPA workers lived at the camp while they built it. They also worked on other projects nearby. For example, they helped build the Holliday Lake State Park. They also started a project in 1935 to plant new trees. This helped to fix farmland that had been used too much.
After the federal project was finished, the WPA camp was given to the state of Virginia. Over time, it became a state forest and park.
The 4-H Club Takes Over
By 1941, the WPA camp was not being used. The federal government owned it, but the Virginia State Conservation Commission managed it. A local group called the Lions Club asked for improvements. They wanted better roads and buildings. They also asked for electricity to be brought to the area.
The 4-H Club took over the camp in 1941. Since then, they have used and expanded the facilities. The 4-H Club still uses the camp today. They lease the land from the State Department of Forestry.
What You'll Find at the Camp
The older part of the camp has many historic buildings. There is a dining center where everyone eats. There are also 15 cabins where campers can sleep. The camp has separate bunk houses for girls and boys. You can also find a covered outdoor amphitheater. This is a place where people can gather for shows or talks.
Most of the historic area of the camp is located between two natural ridges. These ridges surround a field that was built by people.
Why This Camp is Important
The Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center is very special. It is one of the few WPA camps left in Virginia. Most WPA camps were meant to be temporary. They were taken apart by the 1950s. But this camp has been used continuously by the 4-H Club since 1941. This is why it has survived.
Most WPA camps were designed differently from other camps, like those built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). CCC camps often looked like military bases. They had large barracks where many people slept together. The Holiday Lake WPA camp is different. It has several smaller cabins that sleep about eight people. It only has one larger barracks building.
Because of its history and how well it has been kept, the camp was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
About the Name: Holiday vs. Holliday
You might notice two different spellings for the name. The state park nearby uses "Holliday" with two L's. This is because a family named Holliday used to own land in the area. One of the creeks that fills the lake is also called "Holliday Creek." Some maps might even call the lake "Holliday Lake."
However, the 4-H camp's name is spelled with one L: Holiday Lake 4-H Camp. The official name on the National Register of Historic Places is also "Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center" with one L.
