Donald R. Beebe, a UConn 4-H New London County volunteer, is the northeastern regional winner of the 2024 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award.
A trial attorney, Beebe has dedicated countless hours to supporting Connecticut youth who participate in in 4-H, a program administered by UConn Extension with UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).
“Mr. Beebe knows how to talk to new 4-H members so they can discover their abilities. He makes it his mission to foster their participation and development, and he encourages them to try new things, to engage with other 4-H youth, and in time they grow into the shining stars they are meant to be,” Mary Ellen Welch, UConn Extension educator and Extension Council liaison.
Beebe’s involvement with 4-H began at the age of eight growing up on his grandfather’s dairy farm, and he is the first to tell you how much 4-H impacted his life. Since the mid-1990s’ he has served as a 4-H volunteer and has dedicated his life to supporting the positive development of young people through his leadership of the New London County 4-H Foundation which oversees the New London County 4-H Camp.
Aside from camp, Beebe oversees approximately 60 teens and a dozen adult volunteers as the 4-H Teen Ambassador program leader. Over the last 25-plus years, the Teen Ambassador program has provided life skills and leadership development for countless teens throughout Eastern Connecticut and beyond. These youth also comprise much of the teen leadership and junior staff at the 4-H camp in the summer months.
“Throughout my time in 4-H, Don Beebe’s name has been synonymous with the New London County 4-H Camp. You cannot go a day during the summer without seeing Don at the camp at one point or another. His dedication to the camp and more importantly the campers is truly inspiring to me and many other teens who hope to someday have a leadership role in making this program a success,” Sawyer B., teen ambassador.
Beebe helps hone the leadership skills of youth in positive ways through the Teen Ambassador program too. He empowers youth by promoting the skills necessary to be successful members of the community. Through leadership opportunities at camp, these youth learn to meet challenges and find creative solutions through their interactions with campers and other staff members.
Beebe always tries to empower youth to have a say in their own path. Whether it is encouraging a camper to try a new activity or challenging teens to put newly learned skills into action, Beebe always entrusts youth with the ability to determine their own path.
An example of this happens each fall when Beebe enlists youth from the Teen Ambassador program to work with adult leaders to create a series of family-friendly, interactive experiences and stage performances at the Big E in West Springfield, MA. The youth facilitate the process and various shows on the stage in the New England Center building. This day is a testament to Beebe’s support as he helps youth gain confidence to actually be on stage leading fairgoers in line dances and camp songs as well as interacting with the public to participate in the educational activities throughout the day.
As a trial attorney, Beebe has a deep appreciation for what makes 4-H special. He is very focused on ways to protect that. Over the last several years, Beebe has been part of an ongoing conversation among 4-H camp leadership on ways to continue to make children feel safe at camp. This might be through providing more inclusive environments where all youth feel like they can just be themselves or constantly evaluating the risk management of camp facilities and staff needs.
By ensuring that the camp continues to meet obligations to retain American Camping Association status, Beebe strives to guarantee that all the places he’s responsible for are available, safe, and welcoming to all young people.
The New London County 4-H Foundation, which oversees the camp is a non-profit organization and must raise funds to continue its mission of outreach to the families of New London County. The primary fundraiser that keeps the camp running outside of camper fees is the annual foundation auction each April. Beebe and a dedicated crew of adult and youth volunteers work tirelessly for months to collect donations, organize items, and facilitate the auction to help ensure the camp’s continuation.
Beebe is also an integral member of the New London County Agricultural Extension Council which helps to support 4-H and other UConn Extension programs in New London County. Each year he donates weeks of camp to the Council to raise funds to support their ongoing priorities and participates in the annual Extension volunteer advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators and other program leaders.
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