Youngsters learning about nature at summer camp

  Monday, June 24, 2013 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

At just 10 years of age, Doug Brown hasn’t yet spent a lot of time in a garden. Between youth sports and all of the technology at his fingertips, he’s yet to develop is green thumb.

But he and nine other youngsters got a chance to start that process this week at the Pittsburg State University Nature Reach summer camps for kids. The camp is taking place at the PSU Natural History Reserve and is for students who have just completed or are just entering the fifth grade.

“We are getting to learn a lot of stuff that we don’t usually learn about,” Brown, a student at St. Mary’s Elementary School, said. “The best parts are the animals and the garden.”

Delia Lister, PSU’s Nature Reach coordinator, said the camp is aimed at exposing young kids to all things nature.

“It’s all about nature this week,” she said. “We want to get the kids outside and let them see and work with all aspects of nature, from plants to animals to weather. We want them to have fun, but we also want them to learn.”

Eleven-year-old Luke Kramer, who is about to enter the sixth grade at Pittsburg Community Middle School, said he’s enjoying learning new things.

“It really is kind of awesome to learn about different animals and foods and plants,” Kramer said. “It’s kind of hot outside, so that’s rough, but it’s still pretty awesome. I love coming out here.”

The camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The last day for the camp is Friday, June 21.