Park District plans more traditional Adventure Day Camp experience

After a year marked by change, Geauga Park District is planning a more traditional Adventure Day Camp experience this summer.

The camp will feature two week-long options that officials say will help to keep campers entering grades 5 through 10 safe while having fun outdoors, according to a news release.

Kayaking, hiking, geocaching, biking, fishing, building and launching model rockets, and exploring stream life are just some of the anticipated outdoor adventures, depending on which week campers are enrolled.

For those sessions held earlier in the season, camp activities will take place at The West Woods’ Affelder House and surrounding natural areas. Dates for campers entering grades 5 through 7 are the weeks of June 7, June 21 and June 28, while the week of June 14 will be for campers entering grades 8 through 10.

Depending on the day, campers will be team building, hiking and geocaching, exploring streams and ponds, or practicing survival skills, the release stated.

The week of June 21 specifically is considered Naturalist Day Camp and will be full of discovering macroinvertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, astronomy, birding and geology.

Then, for a more diverse experience later in the season, campers will be dropped off at a different park each morning: The West Woods on Mondays, Claridon Woodlands on Tuesdays, Observatory Park on Wednesdays, Bass Lake Preserve on Thursdays and Big Creek Park on Fridays.

These are scheduled for campers entering grades 5 through 7 the weeks of July 12, July 26 and Aug. 2, and the week of July 19 for campers entering grades 8 through 10.

Naturalist Karie Wheaton said doing camps this way in 2021 will eliminate the need to transport campers together in a single vehicle, ensuring social distancing is also a priority throughout the fun.

Additionally, X-Treme Days for campers entering grades 8 through 10 will take place June 30 (XTreme Kayak Adventure at LaDue Reservoir), July 14 (X-Treme High Ropes Course Adventure at Claridon Woodlands) and July 28 (X-Treme Biking Adventure at Claridon Woodlands).

Registration begins March 20 at 440-286-9516 or www.geaugaparkdistrict.org. For fees and additional details, visit the website under Activities, then Naturalist-Led Experiences.