Camping 101: Holiday Camp Recap

This past Monday, campers braved the cold and calls for bad weather and joined SPREE in a one day camp-out! This day of Holiday Camp was Camping 101 and was focused on skills and materials needed for a successful camping trip whether it be in a backyard or a national forest.

The first activity we did was scheme and plan the supplies needed for a camp out. We organized the supplies into “Camping Wants” vs “Camping Needs” because it is important to prioritize supplies based on the available space you have to transport everything! We then went outside to learn how to set up a tent, and test out some sleeping bags- they helped keep us warm!

The second activity we did was create DIY Camping Hacks! During this activity, campers made a small and portable first aid kit necklaces. These kits are great for small injuries that happen in the back or front country. They included important supplies like band-aids, alcohol wipes, Qtips & gauze. Campers then decorated their kits so they would be easy to spot when they are needed! Campers also created a lantern from recycled water bottles & glow sticks which could be used to produce fun-colored lights in a tent or near a fire. We completed this craft heavy activity by creating some fire-starters out of recycled toilet paper rolls, dryer lint, and paper. These will work great to start a fire- but should only be used with a parent’s help!

Our third activity was Critter Crawl- the time during each camp day where we get INTO the River, and catch small critters called Macroinvertebrates. Many people love to fish in Colorado, and a great place to fish is at Deckers along the South Platte River in the mountains. Fish thrive here because there is plenty of space and food. The food these fish eat include the macroinvertebrates that live in our River. It was a chilly day, so we ended up splitting critter crawl. We still went into the River, but after ~20 minutes and our toes got cold, we went back inside and warmed up making fish prints using model fish and stamp ink!

The cold weather was finally appropriate for our final activity of the day- a campfire! This campfire was happily enjoyed by campers and teachers alike, and so were the treats that we roasted in our fire…. S’mores! Each camper roasted marshmallows that we then wedged between graham crackers and chocolate for the most delicious camp sandwich ever! Check out some of our s’more smiles below :)

Monday’s “Camping 101” camp was such a blast, and we left the day feeling much more prepared to head out with family and friends on our own camping adventures. Have fun, stay safe, and we will see you soon down by the River!