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Welcome to Wilderness Adventure Camp! In this special camp, youngsters age 8 – 12 spend the week preparing for their Thursday night campout at the McCloskey Primitive Campsite at Fair Hill, developing skills that might come in handy on future camping trips with friends or family.
 Camp begins with a special lesson on safety and first aid as campers build their own wilderness adventure emergency kit. Campers build cook fires and sample food prepared with different cooking methods. Examining pond water under a microscope before and after treating it by boiling, filtering or with iodine tablets, they sure can see the difference! The lesson about packing (and lifting) a backpack is always fun. Campers also hone their skills following trails, reading maps, and using a compass.
 Thursday evening campers arrive at theNature Center to load their gear in vans before hiking up to their campsite. Parents are always welcome on the camp over and several joined in the fun. A special treat this year was a visit from amateur astronomer James T. Morgan who brought his telescopes for viewing Saturn and its moons. Of course the night wouldn’t be complete without a roaring campfire, hotdogs, and s’mores.
Friday morning starts bright and early with a breakfast of pancakes and eggs followed by packing up tents and belongings for a return trip to the Nature Center. A final detour through the Big Elk Creek to search for crayfish, minnows, and other critters results in a crowd of muddy, tired, but happy campers ready to head home and Wilderness Adventure teachers ready for a weekend of well-deserved rest!
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