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Villa Maria hosts Teen Outdoor Camp
Villa Maria hosts event for kids
By Bruce Walton
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 today, youths age 10 to 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, it's kind of been a camp for teens planned by teens,” she said.
Cole Baird, activity director, said he enjoys teaching the campers and being a part of their experience. Baird said he wants children to experience the outdoors and learn skills to not just survive in nature, but to enjoy it.
“I think it’s a wonderful way for teens to get out and experience the outdoors,” he said. “Kids don’t get to see that as much anymore. We take a lot of kids from cities and have them experience the outdoors where they might not get to any other way.”
The teen camp grew out of a discussion about a new camp for Mahoning Valley children who become too old for Camp GROW, a once-a-week gardening camp from June 16 to Aug. 12, in which children age 5 to 12 learn gardening, swimming and nature activities.
Sister Jeanne said the Outdoor Teen Camp continues that tradition for preteens and teens for a single week. The camp’s attendance has also been growing since its first year from 13 in 2014 to twice as many now.
The children also appreciate the time they spend at the camp. Noah Christoff, 13, of Canfield, who usually spends his summer in his back yard playing in his tent, said there is never a moment where they’re not having fun.
Today, parents of the campers visit to see their children demonstrate what they’ve learned through the week, and the campers are presented with participation awards.
Sister Jeanne said she expects the children to keep their appreciation and wonder for nature long after their time at the camp. She also hopes that the camp can grow to involve 40 to 50 campers, as well as have a longer session in the future.