Cubs in grades 1-5 participate in outdoor activities
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
Summer is typically the time when Scouts gather for camp. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 made the normal resident, sleep-over camp impossible this year. But Scouts still had the chance to bond, learn new skills and earn merit badges at outdoor mini camps offered for the first time at Camp Mountaineer.
Last week, Scouts BSA — those in grades 6 and up — gathered for the day-long programming that ran Aug. 17-21. Among the offerings were archery, swimming, climbing, zip-lining and rifle shooting.
This week, Cub Scouts — those in grades 1-5 — had their chance. Today marks the last day of the mini camp, where they swam, climbed, did handicrafts, and participated in STEM activities and archery. Some Scouts BSA were even able to return to complete merit badges.
Participants could attend as many or as few days as they wanted.
Amy Garbrick, Mountaineer Area Council vice president of the program, said the mini camps have been popular.
“We never offered them before,” she said. “Parents are happy for the opportunity for their kids to do outside activities. They’ve been in the house for the past several months.”
Garbrick added that the timing of the mini camps was purposeful. Parents were able to drop their kids off as early as 7 a.m. and pick them up as late as 6 p.m., so that those who must work outside of the home could do so.
“I think they really appreciated that,” Garbrick said, of parents.
Families could also rest assured that their children were safe, as she said that the council’s physician worked closely with leaders to come up with mandatory COVID-19 precautions for participants, such as wearing masks, social distancing and limiting the number of attendees.
“And a lot of what we’re doing, climbing, shooting sports, you already have to be apart, so it lended itself to [the precautions],” Garbrick said. “We’ve had a great couple of weeks.”
She said that now is prime time for Scout recruitment. Those interested may learn more at beascout.org.
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