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Departments | Conservation | In the News | Outdoor camp mixes a little learning and a lot of fun - June 19, 2007

Outdoor camp mixes a little learning and a lot of fun

At Lime Creek Nature Center

Article written by Dick Johnson and used with permission from the Globe Gazette, published on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

 

MASON CITY - Regular old school is fading in the rear-view mirror.

 

Outdoor school - more specifically, a week long Outdoor Adventures camp for youngsters entering grades five and six this fall - is larger than life at the Lime Creek Nature Center.

 

Ohhh, it looks like fun.

 

Monday's agenda: how to read a compass. Did you know that little needle always points north?

 

"You get lost in the woods," said Abby Morse, 10, of Mason City. "It's actually more fun than scary."

 

"It's kind of fun walking around, seeing things you never see," said Tyler Pals, 11, of Rockwell. "There's a lot of trees that creak."

 

Today, the 15 camp participants will build outdoor shelters and sample edible plants. Wednesday they'll go canoeing on Quarry Lake at the Lime Creek Conservation Area. Thursday it's fishing at the Bluebill Wildlife Area near Clear Lake.

 

The week ends Friday with a 3.5-mile backpacking hike from Wilkinson Pioneer Park in Rock Falls to the Shell Rock Preserve.

 

Kendall Cornick, 10, of Mason City, is loving this.

 

"It's just fun," she said, "cause you're learning about nature and you go fishing and canoeing."

 

"It's fun seeing all the different animals you can find," said Caleb Crooks, 11, of Rockwell, who saw bluejays, cardinals, chipmunks, rabbits and a dog.

 

"I think they're just having fun being outside and doing 'outside' things," said Cerro Gordo County Naturalist Todd VonEhwegen. "They're a good bunch of kids. I think they'll be fun to be with all week."

 

Cerro Gordo County Conservation Office