Canoeing, kayaking, wall climbing and archery might sound like activities for rugged outdoorsmen, but Maryville youths are showing they too can those and more during Maryville Parks and Recreation camp this week.

MPR officials offered their youth day camp again this year for children ages 9-12.
Along with those outdoor activities, participants practiced their creative sides with various arts and crafts and got their exercise playing indoor sports and games.
Brian Howard, recreation supervisor for MPR, is in charge of the youth camp for the fourth year in a row.

"It's an opportunity for the area youth to get to meet other kids and experience things they might otherwise not be able to do," Howard said.

For 12-year-old Kendra Henggeler, who is participating for her fourth and final time this year, that is exactly the case. She said the outdoor activities like the wall climbing and kayaking are things she never would have been able to do over the last few years if she hadn't signed up for camp.

She said although there are some of the same activities every year, Howie, as the children refer to him, changes it up and keeps things interesting from year to year.
She added that, of the various camps she has participated in, this one has been her favorite.

"(Howie’s) nice and he makes things fun for us," she said. "And it's good to meet new people."

For first-time participants, their experience can be a little different.
Nine-year-old Blake Schreck, for example, said his experience on a kayak was a unique one.

"I'd been in a boat before, but never in a kayak," he said. "It was a lot of fun."
Although he already had two friends going to camp with him, Blake said he's made a lot of new friends at the camp.

He added the camp is definitely something he'd sign up for again next year and that the college students who help supervise at the camp had taught him a lot about basketball.
"They have some really good tips," he said with a smile.

Howard said that the best part about working with this age group is watching the children transition from the beginning of the week to the end.

"When (some of) the kids first get here they are a little timid and shy, but by the second day it's a big difference," he said. "It's fun to watch how open they become by the end of the week."

As a day camp, participants arrive at the Community Center at 7:30 a.m. and either leave at noon or at 5 p.m., depending on if they are full or half day campers.

Throughout the week, children participate in outdoor activities at the MOERA course at Mozingo Lake, visit the Maryville Aquatic Center, bowl at Bearcat Lanes, view a movie at The Hangar, listen to a guest speaker and play games at the Maryville Community Center.

On Wednesday, Ed Higdon, a Missouri Conservationist based out of the northwest Missouri headquarters in St. Joseph, presented an overview of wildlife using furs as examples to pass around to the children.

Higdon, who has been a conservationist for 29 years, said his favorite part about his job are the interactions with people. He said the average conservationist gives two to five presentations every month to area groups.

"Dealing with the kids is great, most of the time they are thrilled and interested in learning about the furs or the birds," Higdon said.

Higdon, who has presented at MPR's youth camp before, said last year he presented birds, so this year he wanted to switch it up so some of the kids weren't seeing the same thing two years in a row.

Higdon said the local conservationist for Maryville is Christine Campbell. If anyone is interested in hearing a wildlife presentation they can reach her at (660) 582-3989. To reach the headquarters in St. Joseph call (816) 271-3100.

The youth day camp at the MCC began Monday and will end Friday. Cost for the camp was $90 for a full day and $60 for a half day.

While Parks and Recreation makes a small profit off of the youth camp to go toward their general operations funds, Howard said most of the money is spent on the activities the kids attend and the arts and crafts supplies.

For more information on this and any other programs through MPR call (660) 562-2923.