Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Great Valley District of the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Scouting America, will host a Cub Scout Summer Day Camp June 8-12 at HopeTree Family Services in Salem.
The camp, designed for children entering first through fifth grades, will feature a dinosaur themed program focused on outdoor adventure, hands-on learning, teamwork and character development.
Activities planned for the week include fishing, archery, STEM projects, crafts, games, nature programs, fossil digging and outdoor skills instruction.
Camp organizers said the program combines Scouting America’s national themes with locally developed activities to create a unique experience for participants.
Tara Brown Kelley, camp director, said the dinosaur theme was selected as a way to bring Cub Scout Day Camp back to the area with an engaging focus for children.
“Who doesn’t love dinosaurs?” Kelley said. “Even if camps use the same theme, every Cub Scout Day Camp is different.”
Organizers said campers will learn about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures through interactive activities while also practicing teamwork, sportsmanship and outdoor safety. Campers also will be introduced to Scouting values, including duty to God, duty to country, obeying the Scout Law and helping others.
A typical day at camp will begin with check-in activities such as coloring pages, Play-Doh stations and a photo booth, followed by a campwide opening ceremony featuring the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and Scout Law, announcements and songs. Children will then rotate through age-based activity stations before gathering for lunch and an afternoon closing ceremony that may include skits, trivia and songs.
Quiet activities will be available at the end of the day until guardians arrive for pickup. Organizers said several safety measures will be in place throughout the week.
Children must be checked in and out by approved adults, and staff will use color coded name tags and matching vehicle pickup tags for families. IDs will be checked during pickup, and any changes to authorized guardians must be logged in advance.
Each group will be supervised by two adults, while trained range masters will oversee archery activities and provide safety instruction and equipment. Fishing activities will include adult supervision and barbless hooks. First aid kits will be available at all activity stations, and CPR and first aid-certified staff members, along with a health officer, will be on site.
Camp organizers said they hope the program will encourage more families to participate in local Scouting programs and volunteer opportunities.
“Scouting is a lifestyle, not just fun for the summer,” Kelley said. “The lessons learned and the fun had during this camp have the potential to change our community.”
The camp will be held at HopeTree Family Services, 931 Mount Vernon Lane in Salem.
