BJ Price
Preble County Conservation Day Camp had its humble beginnings in 2016 with 71 campers and 10 counselors for three big days, taking place at the Preble County Historical Society. Fast forward to last week when over 130 energetic campers attended the ninth annual Conservation Day Camp. It is still hosted at the Historical Society which has proved to be an ideal location for the camp through the years.
Camp took place last week on three of the hottest days of the year so far. On Tuesday and Wednesday, campers took part in several different activities, including archery, a challenge course, creeking, making homemade French fries, and geocaching. Crafts offered at camp consisted of candle-dipping, handmade tin-punched lanterns, and T-shirt tie-dying.
Each day began with a large-group assembly at the amphitheater where campers were welcomed and introduced to the events for the day. Campers were assigned to a specific color group to be a part of for the entire camp. To start the day off with a laugh, a handful of counselors performed a skit for the whole crowd. After covering some basic ground rules and expectations for camp, everyone headed out to their assigned activities for the day.
Lunch was served on frisbees covered with a flimsy paper plate on top to serve as a liner. While it may seem wasteful to have paper plates on top of the frisbees, there is a story behind that. When someone first mentioned buying frisbees and using them as plates, we got right on it. We had reusable ‘plates’ that could be given away at the end of camp and then taken home and used as toys. What could be better? What we didn’t count on was how dirty a frisbee could get at lunchtime. By the time you combine ranch dip, ketchup, chip grease, and some grass clippings on a frisbee, things start to get pretty gross, and the kitchen staff told us so. After that, we bought the flimsiest paper plates we could and put them on top of the frisbees. Now the paper plates go in the trash with most of the mess, the frisbees are easy to wash and reuse, and the kitchen staff is back to being content.
The end of each day found the groups once again at the amphitheater. That day’s events were rehashed and lost-and-found items such as water bottles, socks, sunglasses, and backpacks were brought up for all to see. Campers who claimed the lost items had to do a performance to get them back, either in the form of a song or a dance such as the “Chicken Dance” or the “Hokey Pokey.” Each day, three or four helpers or counselors were recognized for outstanding things that the camp staff had ‘caught’ them doing that day.
Thursday was the hottest day of the week. That morning, everyone who had some part in putting on camp was recognized. A group picture was taken, then campers went hiking, took wagon rides, wrote thank-you cards, and practiced a skit of their own. Lunch included ice cream afterwards. That afternoon, camper groups took part in a skit contest and the audience voted for the winners. Soon it was time for dismissal, and kids went home a little sad to see it over but glad for all the memories and the new friends made along the way.
Conservation Day Camp couldn’t take place without all of our dedicated partners, including the Preble County Historical Society, Mamma Mac’s Pizza, Wildcat Sports and Graphics, Miami University, Ruebush Family Farms, and many adult volunteers. We are so grateful to all the junior-high through college-age students who volunteered to serve as camp helpers and counselors.
Reach BJ Price at 937-456-5159 for more information.
