NEXT GENERATION

Arkansas 4-H camps offer kids and youth multiple outdoor activities.

CAMPING KIDS PREPARING THE NEXT OUTDOOR GENERATION

Children and youth have a wide range of camping experiences at their disposal through Arkansas 4-H. Creenna Bocksnick, camping coordinator at the organization’s Vines Center, said the programs help turn kids on to camping at a young age.

“I think some of the kids are getting more into some of the outdoor activities,” she said. “I know this is really going to be counterintuitive, but some of the gaming systems that are hunting-based are having a positive impact on that.

“Even exercise programs where they’re on a treadmill watching scenery that takes them through mountains or different places around the world, I think some of that stuff is piquing kids’ interest. They get to the point where they want to experience these things other than virtually.”

Pre-COVID, The Vines Center hosted up to 500 children a year in their camping programs, some as young as 5 years old. Scholarship applications are up, Bocksnick said, suggesting more underserved and low-income communities are discovering camping. She also noted that broadening the focus of camps has helped with both numbers and diversity.

“Our general camps, depending on the session, are 50/50 as far as boys versus girls,” she said. “A couple years ago we offered a STEM camp and it was almost exclusively boys. I offer an artisan camp, and it’s almost exclusively girls.

“We want them to learn how to canoe or fish or archery or whatever the activity is, but we are also focusing on communication, leadership, goal-setting and dealing with their fellow campers, then taking those skills and applying them to other things above and beyond those activities they’re doing at camp.”

Brocksnick said one thing that would enhance many families’ experiences in the state parks is better communication of family-friendly areas.

“One thing I’d suggest is making sure there’s signage everybody can understand, whether in words or in pictures,” she said. “Note where a trail that is suitable for this type of skill or these types of needs or abilities or even pointing out stuff you’ll find along this trail, like waterfalls or overlooks, that’s super easy and almost infographic. Something that they could look and know here’s where I’m headed.

“Also, I’d like to see more reminders about Leave No Trace that are easy to understand, easy to see and easy to remember, placed around where needed. That’s the kind of thing some of your beginners may not know or may not remember.”