“These are kids that never get out of the city, never had an outdoor experience, never get a chance maybe to go to a swimming pool or archery range or have a campfire,” Mauch said.
Many of the 130 kids are from Springfield and have a case file with children’s services. The camp is for children ages 5 to 10. Participants receive breakfast, lunch and a full day of activities such as swimming, crafts and nature hikes, said Courtney McKinnon, a county social worker who directs the camp.
“It just makes your heart melt when on Monday they’re scared to put their toes into a pool because they’ve never been in an in-ground pool, and by Friday they’re wanting to jump in the deep end,” she said.
Lexi Parks, a 10-year-old from Springfield, said she’d never spent anytime outdoors until she joined Challenge Camp five years ago. Now she loves archery.
“It just feels fun, pulling back the bow and arrow, and when you get it into the bull’s-eye, it just makes you really proud,” she said.
For 6-year-old Lauren Timmons of Springfield, she loves swimming and nature hikes.
“We see lots of trees and bushes and grass and muddy puddles,” she said.
Learning how to row a boat and fish is 10-year-old Haley Hursh’s favorite part of camp.
“It’s just cool to see all the creatures down in the water. We see turtles and stuff down there,” Hursh, of Springfield, said.
The camp runs through Aug. 3. Parents or guardians interested in getting their children signed up for next year’s camp can contact children’s services at (937) 327-1700.
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