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Photo by Johnny Wagner

Photo by Johnny Wagner

Photo by Johnny Wagner

FAIRBANKS -- Team Scorpion Green Slime won’t be going for the gold in Beijing, but they were giving their all during the basketball toss.

The team was one of four participating in the Outdoor Olympic Games at Camp Fire USA’s summer program. Campers rotated through activities such as running up a hill then rolling back down and the three-legged race in their quest for fun.

In addition to the outdoor games, the camp features a number of activities and field trips focused on a theme each week. Last week, camp participants learned about North America through activities including pioneer games, building dream catchers and cooking an early American graham cracker cake. Campers also took a field trip to the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.

“Caring, confident future leaders is what we focus on daily,” said Heather Larrabee, site director.

She and David Boyens, site coordinator, said the camp strives to balance fun and education. The camp pulls elements of art, science, drama, music, cooking and building and combine them with community service to keep the children engaged.

“It’s light but educational,” Larrabee said.

The days at the camp consist of age-based activities in the morning, then campers can chose their own activities in the afternoon. Larrabee said this allows the younger children to interact with the older ones.

In the middle of the day, the campers have a journaling period, where they can choose to draw or write in their journals. The period includes readings from leaders then time for leaders to check in with campers.

There is also a club option that provides more activity choices for the campers. They can develop skills such as sewing, photography and language under the watchful eye of a leader.

“It’s kind of a surprise; we let the kids decide what they want to do,” Larrabee said.

Boyens said the camp, located at University Park Elementary, averages about 50-60 campers a day and tries to keep a 10-1 ratio of campers to leaders.

Campers can sign up for a week or for individual days. The summer program is only open to children heading into first grade to those who have just finished sixth grade. The camp runs through Aug. 1 then Camp Fire USA takes a short break before starting its before- and after-school programming.

Larrabee and Boyens have been involved with Camp Fire USA for a number of years and have seen a number of familiar faces go through the programs.

“I have seen kids from so young until they were too old for the program,” Larrabee said.

Although Larrabee and Boyens are the administrators at the camp, they aren’t above participation. A head-to-head competition takes place during the Olympics as Larrabee and Boyens take to the hill for a massive roll down. Boyens wins that round, but the kids are just happy to see the two participate.

Gray skies threatened Friday afternoon’s Outdoor Olympics, but the activity-ending rains never came. What did come was a number of enthusiastic campers who throw, roll and cheer each other on with enthusiasm.

“Everybody gets a super-cool prize at the end,” Larrabee told the excited campers before taking to the playground.

Leader Ecsile Chang’s Team Scorpion Green Slime was definitely full of enthusiasm even if they couldn’t remember their own team name.

Another leader asked the team what they are called and he got a rush of answers ranging from Team Green Scorpion to Team Red Snake.

“We’re still trying to work it out,” Chang said.

This is Chang’s first year at the camp and said she decided to become a leader because she loves working with children and her older sister had also worked as a leader previously.

“Kids ask about and know about everything,” she said. “Kids are underestimated.”

The hill was not underestimated either.

“It was pretty nice but it makes me all dizzy,” said Cora Felt, 6, after taking a tumble down the hill.

Felt was the first one up then back down but her team mate, Alberto Del Rio, 10, said he was also looking forward to his turn on the hill. Being outside was one of Del Rio’s favorite things about the camp because he liked playing in the wide spaces at the school.

“This camp rocks!” Del Rio said.