Valley youth learn camping, fire building, forest ecology at Villa Maria camp

VILLA MARIA, Pa.

Deep in the Villa Maria woods, some 30 preteens and teenagers spent a week learning about camping, fire building and forest ecology.

From 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, youths ages 10-16 learn and use outdoor skills at the 2016 Outdoor Teen Camp hosted by the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center.

Campers are encouraged to learn skills to use in nature including building a shelter, hiking, using a compass, first aid and swimming. The campers are divided daily into three groups to learn camping, fire building or forest ecology — with breaks in between with snacks, games, and water fun.

Sister Jeanne Thurin of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, and the environmental education program associate, runs the camp with nine staff members with a mix of adults and teenagers.

“From the very beginning, its kind of been a camp for teens planned by teens,” she said.

Read more about the program in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.