Outdoor Adventure Camp: the s'more the merrier: Week 4

Ijams' Outdoor Adventure Camp is a lively mix of old school and new. There's arm wrestling and chest bumps; lake swimming and paddle-boards; watermelon and s'mores.  (S'more is old school. The first recorded version of the recipe can be found in "Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts" published in 1927.) And as we all know, any day is a good day with s'mores.

We discovered early that when you do so many activities outside, the kids need to eat a lot; and some of the best food is cooked over a campfire—summertime bill of fair like roasted hot dawwwwgs and the s'mores, plus the perennial favorite watermelon. 

Week four was reserved for the kids from Haslam Boys & Girls Club from North Knoxville.

Outdoor Adventure Camp is made possible with the help of these generous partners:

          • West Knoxville Sertoma Club 

          • Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley 

          • Grassroots Outdoor Alliance 

          • Horny Toad Activewear 

          • Pelican International 

           • River Sports Outfitters

Additional food and funding provided by:

          • South Knoxville Alliance  

Ijams offers camp scholarships for kids in traditionally under-served communities. After the first four weeks we've seen kids from Walter P. Taylor, Western Heights, Middlebrook, North Ridge Crossing and Haslam Boys and Girls Clubs.

Here's some highlights of week four:

- By Jennifer Roder, Stephen Lyn Bales. Photos Katie Plank and Rex McDaniel.

Chest bump!

We are MIGHTY!

Balance is the key

Lunch time

Three dawgs at a time seemed the entrée du jour.

Can I borrow this chip? You're not using it.

S'more, s'more, s'more the merrier.

Best melon grin ever!

Resting and digesting

Until the arm wrestling tournament.

Strategies for beating Chris: Out charm him.

Out stare him

Out grimace him

Out man him

Back to the water

The Ijams Armada

First solo paddle

Solo makes it across the lake with the support of a watchful pair of eyes

Outdoor Adventure Camp!  A look back.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3 

And a thank you to the South Knoxville Alliance

Outdoor Adventure Camp is hot, hot, hot! Week 3

Ijams' Outdoor Adventure Camp heated up last week. Five days of temperatures in the 90s. Luckily, we had plenty of water-related activities planned.

Two buses pulled at the beginning of the week with kids from North Ridge Crossing and Haslam Boys and Girls Clubs. Each Monday the kids do not know quite what to expect; most have never been on such an adventure. Most rarely get to leave their neighborhoods all summer.

They arrive a bit nervous and leave at the end of day on Friday with hopefully wonderful memories of their week, and a bit tired after all the hiking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, biking, creek exploring, dip-netting, sweep netting and rock climbing. There's also animal presentations and scavenger hunts; a mix of education and recreation.
 
And yet, in the end, it's just kids getting a chance to be kids and have fun outdoors away from brick and asphalt. 

This summer, Ijams has embarked on an exciting new program for East Tennessee children: Outdoor Adventure Camp with the help of these generous partners:

          • West Knoxville Sertoma Club 

          • Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley 

          • Grassroots Outdoor Alliance 

          • Horny Toad Activewear 

          • Pelican International 

           • River Sports Outfitters 

Ijams will be able to offer camp scholarships for kids in traditionally under-served communities. 

After the first three weeks we've seen kids from Walter P. Taylor, Western Heights, Middlebrook, North Ridge Crossing and Haslam Boys and Girls Clubs.

Here's some highlights of week three:

- By Jennifer Roder, Stephen Lyn Bales. Photos SLB.

 Outdoor Adventure Camp!  A look back.

Week 1
Week 2

Ijams completes second week of Outdoor Adventure Camp!

We DID it! Confidence building.

Joy. It's unmistakable. You can see it on their faces. 

But, before that, sometimes there's a little trepidation. Trying something new, like canoeing, kayaking or even riding a bike can be a little intimidating, if you have never done it.

But doing it is a confidence builder.

This summer, Ijams is embarking on an exciting new program for East Tennessee children. Outdoor Adventure Camp!

Yes, outside all day—hiking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, biking, creek exploring, dip-netting, sweep netting and rock climbing.

With the help of generous partners:

          • West Knoxville Sertoma Club 

          • Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley 

          • Grassroots Outdoor Alliance 

          • Horny Toad Activewear 

          • Pelican International 

           • River Sports Outfitters 

Ijams will be able to offer camp scholarships for kids in traditionally under-served communities. 

After the first two weeks we've seen kids from Walter P. Taylor, Western Heights and the new Middlebrook Boys and Girls Clubs.

Here's some highlights of week two:

- By Jennifer Roder, Stephen Lyn Bales. Photos SLB.

By the end of the week, the kids work as a team.

Riding a mountain bike can be a little overwhelming, at first.

All you need is a little help getting started.

New this week: a simulated backcountry rescue.

A call comes in. There's an injured woman who needs to be located.

A rescue team is assembled and takes to the trail.

The pretend victim is found and comforted; injuries assessed. 


A look back. 
Outdoor Adventure Camp!  Week 1.