Cub Scout day camp will return to Sikeston
SIKESTON — Area children will have the opportunity to experience Cub Scout Day Camp next month in Sikeston.
The Greater St. Louis Area Council will offer “Geared Up Robotics” BSA Day Camp 2021 from noon to 4 p.m. July 22 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 23-24 at Sikeston Elks Lodge. Lunch will be provided Friday and Saturday.
“Any student who has completed kindergarten through fourth grade is welcome to attend, even if they aren’t a registered Scout,” said Ashley Metelski, senior district executive for Boy Scouts of America’s Greater St. Louis Area Council serving Cherokee and Shawnee Districts based in Cape Girardeau. “We’re excited to be able to put on this program for another year – especially since they weren’t able to offer the camp last year with COVID.”
Currently, 20 or so children are signed up for the camp in Sikeston, Metelski said, adding she hopes that number increases a bit.
One of the focuses of the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s camps is STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, according to Metelski. The camp will also include healthy, fun outdoor activities, crafts and games, she said.
“We want the campers to be able to experience things they might not be able to normally experience in the school setting like archery and BB guns, and we know people have been cooped up inside with the pandemic,” Metelski said.
Of course, campers will be taught proper gun safety, Metelski added.
Each day will follow a schedule of events, she said.
Day camp is also great for children to build friendships and character development, Metelski said.
“Camp is a great way for youth to make some new friends and get to experience some things they may not have the opportunity to experience as well,” she said.
Metelski also said the camp experience will include safe COVID prevention and health and safety standards.
“We’re taking the health and safety of our staff and volunteers, whose temperatures we’ll be taking everyday, seriously,” Metelski said. “We’ll be following by CDC guidelines and will review those on a very consistent basis.”
She noted campers and staff will not have to wear face masks. There will be hand sanitizer available as the children move from station to station at camp, Metelski said.
The camp is also always looking for local volunteers who want to come out to the camp and speak about their business or trade and as it relates to camp, Metelski said.
“Scouting is for everyone,” Metelski said. “You don’t have to be a registered Scout to attend. We’re always accepting applications for boys and girls.”
Cost for the camp is $70. Parents learn more about day camp and fill out the required health form in advance of camp or register for the camp online at https://stlbsa.org/camps/cub-scout-day-camps/