The mature forest, ridges, bottoms, and wetlands of this 545- acre York County park are alive with a wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants that provide habitat for deer, raccoons, birds, turtles, snakes, millipedes, and more. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ Birding and Wildlife Trail program has recognized New Quarter Park as one of coastal Virginia’s best sites for wildlife-watching and hiking.

History
Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric sites that reveal this land was home to Woodland Indians. After 1607, explorers from Jamestown crossed through the area to visit Chief Powhatan at Werowocomoco (Gloucester). The land along Queens Creek and the York River was granted to English settlers beginning in the 1630s.

In the early 1700s, Robert “King” Carter named this tract New Quarter, one of many quarters or farms that made up his landholding. He gave it to his grandson, Carter Burwell, who built Carter’s Grove. Slaves lived and toiled here for about 150 years. Nathaniel Burwell, Carter Burwell’s son, and many of his slaves moved west after the American Revolution.

During the Civil War, Union Troops at Fort Monroe launched a campaign to take Richmond, the Confederate Capital. Earthworks were built to slow the advance; Redoubts 12 and 13 are within the Park. After the Civil War, the forest grew while the land was lightly used by tenant farmers. York County acquired the property at no cost through the federal surplus land act program in 1976 on the condition that it be used for recreational purposes. Today the park is enjoyed by thousands of outdoor and recreational enthusiasts.

FACILITIES

• Available first come, first served: Hiking & mountain biking trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters, disc golf course, canoe & kayak launch, floating dock/ fishing pier, basketball & volleyball courts, soft ball field, horseshoe pits. • Picnic shelters may be reserved (see fees). • Public restrooms.

Trail  Map

Jamestown 4-H Educational Center, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of youth and adult volunteers through innovative 4-H camping, environmental education, and leadership training.

Founded in 1928, Jamestown 4-H Center became the first fully dedicated 4-H Camp built in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jamestown 4-H Educational Center annually hosts nine full weeks of summer camp, weekend specialty camps, environmental education programs, school field trips, family reunions, church retreats, and conferences. Jamestown 4-H Educational Center is a proudly accredited American Camping Association camp, and is in collaboration with Virginia Cooperative Extension and Character Counts. The 4-H Center is also a proud member of Network Williamsburg and Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance. The 4-H Center is located in Williamsburg, along the James River. We are within walking distance to both Historic Jamestown and the Capital Trail, less than one mile from the Colonial Parkway, less than 5 miles from Colonial Williamsburg, and 20 minutes from Yorktown.

Our campus has 4 cabins  and 2 lodges . Each cabin has 2 large rooms with 14 bunk style beds, a smaller room with 2 single cots, and a bathroom with showers. Each lodge has 6 rooms with 8 bunk style beds, a large common room with 2 single cots, and 2 bathrooms with showers. Private dormitory style rooms are also available, with 2 single cots and a private bathroom, perfect for your special guest or bus driver! The campus also has a large dining hall, which seats up to 200. We also have a large recreation hall, which is perfect for talent shows, services, and large group break out sessions.

History

From 1928 to 1947

In 1928 Jamestown 4-H Educational Center was the first, fully-dedicated 4-H Camp built in the Commonwealth. The first six-acre camping site stood on the shores of the James River one mile north of Jamestown Island. The site, with its rustic wooden structures, was deeded to the 4-H organization by the C&O Railroad for the benefit of 4-H clubs and kindred organizations of the counties of the Commonwealth teaching better farming methods and domestic science. 4-H summer camps took place every summer between 1928 and 1946, with the exception being the World War II years of 1943 and 1944.

The original Jamestown 4-H camp property was later acquired by the National Park Service for its National Monumental Highway (Colonial National Historical Park) that connects Historic Jamestown Island NPS to Yorktown National Battlefield Park NPS. In 1942, the Jamestown 4-H Camp organization purchased a 16-acre parcel of land 1/2 mile up-river from the original site on land previously-owned by the C&O Railroad.

A New Home

Between 1948 and 1950 structures were built of wood frame and concrete blocks. Over the year many other buildings were built and renovated to meet the needs of modern campers..

In 1976, Jamestown 4-H Camp incorporated as Jamestown 4-H Educational Center with a governing body called the Corporate Membership. In 1982, the Corporate Membership made the decision to renovate and expand the existing facility.

The improvements and expansions of the 1980s gave the Center extensive recreational, meeting, and lodging facilities.

Today

From it’s early, agricultural roots, the Center not only continues over an 80-year tradition of fostering 4-H Campers into productive citizens with passions for environmentally-sensitive living practices, but also to help develop skills and interests in all science disciplines. In addition to the 4-H Campers who come to the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center, the Center also caters to private groups and organizations for their particular needs. The Center is fully-dedicated to serving those Extension Agents and 4-Hers from the Northeastern District of Virginia. All programming designed and administered by and accepted practices performed by the Center staff remain consistent with the core values of 4-H. The Center invites you to become apart of this extensive family and connect with our combined American heritage here at Jamestown.

Where we are

Jamestown 4-H Educational Center is located within walking distance to both Historic Jamestown and the Capital Trail, less than one mile from the Colonial Parkway, and less than 5 miles from Colonial Williamsburg, 20 minutes from Yorktown.

We are an exclusive, safe location that hosts educational, developmental team building and corporate events and 9 weeks of summer camp to 22 units in the state.

The 4-H property offers an unobstructed view of the James River, 2 Lodges that each sleep 50, 4 cabins that sleep 30, a Low Ropes Course, swimming pool, newly renovated amphitheater, fishing pier, living shoreline with a beach, dining and rec halls that can be used simultaneously by groups, multiple outdoor activities in a large recreational field typical of summer camps, acres of wooded property shielding us from development and a level of charm one can only experience first hand.

Several renovation and construction projects are underway at Mid County Park, all part of the Master Plan to refocus park activities from less team sports to more community recreation and to address aging equipment, safety and parking. Many park amenities will remain such as the basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and the walking trail.

• The baseball fields will be redesigned with landscaping to offer more large open space for family activities such as picnics, kite-flying and ball play opportunities. The light poles and fencing are being removed and the press boxes and dugouts will be eliminated. The light poles will be moved to Jamestown High School to light their baseball and softball fields.

• A new playground will be built to replace the aging Kidsburg and a new Park Office will provide larger restroom facilities and vending areas. The new playground will be a more modern structure; however, many of the theme aspects of the current playground will remain.

• Construction and renovation of the playground and office will be completed in stages and should be finished by spring 2013.

• A plaque will be installed at the park to honor its history and those individuals and groups who supported the park through fence picket purchases and as volunteers and businesses who helped make Kidsburg a community success.

Anyone who purchased a Kidsburg fence picket and would like it back can call 757-592-0495 for information on how they can pick up their picket in the fall.

You can watch for future updates on this website or follow the renovations at the County’s website or by phone, 757-259-5360 or email parks.rec@james-city.va.us