Adventure Camp at Bridge Street Middle School Teaches Youth New Skills
Emma Delk Trending
WHEELING -- Arrows flew across the Bridge Street Middle School gym on Friday on the last day of Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp, where kids in grades 4-12 not only sharpened their archery skills but also learned other outdoor activities and safety skills.
While the camp began in 2020 as "strictly archery," according to Rick Thomas, founder of the camp and Ohio County Archery, it has since expanded into teaching campers how to fish, camp and kayak as well. Thomas said he had the idea to add other skills to the camp in July 2022 when he saw kids being taught to fish at Cabela's using an above-ground swimming pool.
"I got to thinking, who can I get a hold of at Cabela's to make this camp bigger than archery and teach them skills like that?" said Thomas. "I've seen so many kids enjoying the archery, and I wanted to get them to explore and enjoy other things."
These "other things" included campers heading down to Little Wheeling Creek to be taught to fish by Bass Pro Shops employees, who also provided supplies for the campers.
Campers also got to learn how to pitch a tent and strike flint together to create a campfire with the help of parent volunteers during their session on Tuesday.
The highlight of the camp for Thomas was getting to see the kids kayak at Little Wheeling Creek, with Southpaw Outfitters employees providing kayaks and lessons on how to navigate in the waters.
"A lot of them didn't go very far in the kayaks," Thomas joked. "But for a lot of these kids, it was their first time kayaking."
MaryKait Jones, a 7-year-old camper, said kayaking was her favorite part because it was "really fun." Jones also enjoyed archery and is hoping that she can be "snuck" onto the Ohio County Archery team because she is too young now to officially join.
Jones, along with most of the other campers, had never tried archery before the camp, with Thomas emphasizing the importance of getting campers to come out of their shells and try new activities at the camp.
He explained that trying new activities allows the campers to "feel like they can do these things." Thomas hopes after the camp, kids will be motivated to ask their parents to go kayaking or camping instead of "reaching for the tablet or computer" when they have free time.
Beyond teaching children outdoor activities and skills, the camp also serves as a "a little bit of a fundraiser," said Jones. The admission cost for campers will go towards new targets and arrows for Ohio County Archery.
"For other sports, it's the uniforms and balls that they wear out," explained Thomas. "For us, it's the arrows and the targets because the better the kids get at hitting the same spot, the more they wear out."
Thomas hopes that he can continue to expand archery in the Ohio Valley and beyond through the Outdoor Adventure Camp. What he loves about the sport is that "anyone can do it," including those with physical and mental challenges.
"Not every kid can make a basket, and not every kid is strong enough to play football," added Jones. "This is a sport that anyone can do for their entire life."
For next year's camp, Thomas is planning to expand activities even more so there will be something different for kids to try every night of the week. Possible new activities he is looking into adding are orienteering, bike riding and first aid lessons.
"I don't get paid extra for putting on the camp, I do it because I love seeing these kids smiling and having fun," said Thomas. "Getting to see these kids develop, not only as archers but as people, is why I do what I do."