Rural Missouri - January 2023 - 42

Top left: Campers can learn to shoot under the supervision of a trained
camp leader. Right: Everyone always seems to be mesmerized as they watch
the slow-moving sloths mosey around their spacious pens. Bottom right:
Campers of all ages enjoy eating a meal cooked out on the grill.
activities that encourage and build
curiosity-guided learning. We're not
your traditional summer camp. "
Campers select two courses and a
variety of options for their weeklong
experience. If a camper is interested
in veterinary science, they might add
geology class and then have an afternoon
to enjoy something unrelated,
such as the riflery course or pottery
class.
For the early birds attending
camp, days can begin as early as 7
a.m. with unique activities such as a
morning walk to the glade. Night owls
might choose to end the day at a glow
stick dance party. Another favorite
activity is the camp's Circle of Life
evening. Teen leaders bring animals
to each cabin and make presentations
for campers, allowing each child to
hold the animal if they want and have
a photo taken. And those campers
staying on-site around the Fourth of
July enjoy a carnival or Floop-a-Flar,
a funny water relay race.
These days, what used to be 10
children at camp during Lori's three
weeks of vacation held in a state park
setting has now grown to more than
1,500 campers over 10 weeklong camp
42 RURAL MISSOURI | JANUARY 2023
opportunities. Camps are divided into
two segments: junior for ages 7 to 11
and a senior for ages 12 to 17. A week
at Cub Creek Science Camp currently
runs $1,190 no matter the age of the
child and covers costs associated with
a weeklong experience (minus the
things which can be purchased in the
camp store).
" We have science labs where kids
can learn to shoot rockets as well as
chemistry segments where they create
crazy concoctions, " Lori says. " But
animal science and the junior vet
program are two of the most popular
courses kids choose. One of the best
ways to describe camp is that it's like
sending kids to a university: they can
all major in different things and still
have unique educational experiences.
Someone might like outdoor survival
skills and archery while someone
else likes arts and crafts. Or a child
may only want to learn more about
animals. Or they can do a little of
everything. We call it curiosity learning
and challenge by choice. We don't
force them to do anything, but we do
hope campers will step outside their
comfort zones in order to grow. "
Campers also may choose to adopt
an animal as part of their stay. They
not only learn all about the animal
but are tasked with helping staff feed
and care for the animal for the week.
Some of the camp critters include
alpacas, wallabies, Patagonian cavies,
lemurs, sloths, bearded dragons,
snakes, parrots and more. For youth
considering a career as a veterinarian
there is a Junior Veterinarian course.
According to Lori, many campers
have told them their time with
animals at camp is often part of the
reason they go into veterinary studies
in college.
If a camper shows an interest in
Rural Missouri - January 2023

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