Wildlife Photograph

Summer camp begins soon

Saturday May 24, 2008
Marking 85th year of camp at Ijams

 During the summer of 1923, Knoxville's original green family, H.P and Alice Ijams helped start Camp Mary Ijams for Girl Scouts on the banks of the Tennessee River near their home. Fast forward 85 years and you will find summer camp operations just as strong here at the nature center. Of course, things are now a little different. Ijams' camps serve a much broader audience: kindergarten through eighth grade.

The most popular camps cater to children on the younger end of the spectrum. Specially-themed camps include: Eco-detectives, Animal Class Acts, Mad Scientists and Food, Water, Shelter. All camps involve hands-on natural history and earth science activities and are enhanced by outdoor exploration and up-close and personal visits with live animals.  

Ijams camps also offer sessions for slightly older children. A brand new camp called Earth-Keepers is a weeklong outdoor adventure for fifth and sixth graders. Going green may be a particularly hot topic for many these days but environmental stewardship has always been at the core of Ijams' mission. However, I doubt that such activities as "Monk's Hike" and "Toxic River," which help campers understand how people can live more sustainable lives, were on the roster back in the 1920s. This more modern weeklong experience culminates in a service project and a pizza party camp-out lasting through Saturday morning.            

For seventh and eighth graders, activities are a little more technical. Developing orienteering skills with a compass and GPS help prepare campers for the great outdoors, while knot-tying, weaving, jewelry and moccasin-making coupled with traditional bird watching and animal tracking activities instill nature appreciation during hikes and cave expeditions.

Ijams' camp experiences not only promote environmental responsibility, but they also increase self-confidence through discovery, science, fun and the forming of friendships. They are 21st century experiences yet they also reflect the history of Ijams and the timeless foundations of outdoor life that are still vital today for a well-rounded child.

One last thing: camp registration fills up quickly so visit www.ijams.org to download the full summer camp schedule or call Misty at 865-577-4717 ext, 12 to register your child or grandchild today!

- By Paul James

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