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Campers practice tying a knot during the Cub Scouts Day Camp at Oak Mountain State Park. (Reporter photo/Keith McCoy)

PELHAM – More than 200 boys participated in the Cub Scouts Day Camp held Monday through Friday, June 5-9, at Oak Mountain State Park.

During the weeklong camp, camp director Melinda Holmes said the boys participated in arts and crafts, field sports, archery, BB gun shooting and spent time working toward earning a belt loop, which is received after completing a task or learning a skill.

Each troop participating in the camp will have an opportunity to earn a belt loop by making their own movie. The campers are responsible for coming up with a storyline, acting and filming their movies.

Storylines the campers were interested in included Bigfoot sightings and hunts and campers getting lost in the woods and encountering mythical creatures along the way.

Holmes said the camp, which was open to incoming first through fifth graders, is centered on building character while having fun.

“It’s all about the boys and making sure they have fun,” she said. “The field sports teach them sportsmanship and team building skills, while arts and crafts allows them to express their creativity.”

Holmes said the most popular activity stations are archery and BB gun shooting. But 10-year-old camper Clifton Windham said his favorite aspect of the camp is the atmosphere.

“It’s just a really fun atmosphere,” he said. “It’s the people and all the activities and I’m glad I came.”

Fifth-year camper Christian Gonzalez, 10, agreed with Windham saying it’s the people that make the camp so much fun.

“The people are really nice and they let you have fun,” Gonzalez said. “I like archery the best and I’m really good at it. I’ve gotten 6 bull’s-eyes.”

Although he’s having fun, Windham said the camp and being a Cub Scout in general has taught him discipline, sportsmanship and “skills you’d probably like to know later in life.”

Camper James Clark, 10, said his favorite areas of camp are the snack shop, archery and BB gun shooting.

“I’m getting better with the BB guns, but I’m not that good yet,” he said. “But it’s really fun.”

Holmes said the camp was completely run by volunteers, most of which were parents of the campers who took off work to help out.

There are multiple Cub Scout troops throughout Shelby County. Parents interested in signing their child up to participate in any Boy Scouts of America program should go to BAscout.org.

See more photos at ShelbyCountyPhotos.com.

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