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In 1992 when Bill and Jan Whitney of Aurora initiated the first SOAR Camp, they may not have envisioned that the program would be going strong almost two decades later.
The acronym SOAR stands for Summer Orientation About Rivers and since that first year, thousands of children have taken part.
The Whitney's founded the Prairie Plains Research Institute back in 1980 and in that time have restored many acres of land back to native Nebraska prairie as well as having educated thousands of people too.
SOAR Camp is an opportunity to immerse children in what nature has to offer.
Many children today would rather sit at their computer or in front of their electronic games than go outside and explore the creeks and rivers, fields and woods as many of their parents did only a generation ago.
This lack of a connection to nature has been coined Nature Deficit Disorder. The Whitney's combat this malady through entertaining and educational outdoor experiences.
SOAR Camp originally began at Aurora and since 1997 there has been an additional camp in the Kearney area co-sponsored by Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary.
The Aurora camp is five days long and there will be two separate week long camps in 2008 teaching children from the third through sixth grades.
The Kearney camp runs Monday through Thursday and takes kids ranging from second through fifth grade.
t is sad that these days many kids have never waded in a river or chased minnows with a net. Whereas toads, frogs and snakes were objects of wonder to kids of past generations, today most kids respond to these fascinating creatures with fear.
After a week of SOAR, kids leave with an appreciation of the things that we can learn from Nature as well as happy memories.
Expert speakers give programs each day of the camp in topics ranging from plants and animals to geology and the fascinating history of Nebraska just to name a few.
Past camps have featured presentations on varied subjects such as Nebraska turtles, canoeing, fishing, raptors and prairie plants. Natural sciences, art and writing are also incorporated with the nature and history for an amazing educational experience.
This year's program includes exciting opportunities such as a GPS treasure hunt, obstacle course and water sampling and kite flying. Although it is a day camp, SOAR participants will have the opportunity to spend an evening with their families and fellow campers enjoying owls and a program from Raptor Recovery Nebraska, a campfire complete with smores and stargazing too.
Campers are assisted by youth peer leaders, many of which who are SOAR graduates themselves. It is common for children to attend several years of SOAR camps before becoming one of the respected peer leaders. One former SOAR graduate has even went on to become a science teacher and then return to SOAR as a presenter.
The only way we can expect our children to grow up and make the kinds of decisions needed to protect our already dwindling natural wonders is to allow them to develop an appreciation for it as youngsters. Through decades of SOAR Camp and the efforts of everyone associated with it, we can be assured that thousands of Nebraska children are getting wet and muddy while learning what Mother Nature has to teach.
Alan J. Bartels writes an outdoor column for The Independent.
SOAR Camp
* Dates for the Aurora camps are July 7-11 and July 14-18 and the Kearney area camp will run from June 16th through the 19th and June 23rd through the 26th.
* For information about the Aurora area SOAR Camp, contact Jan Whitney at (402) 694-5535, e-mail janppri@hamilton.net , or visit www.prairieplains.org
* For the Kearney area SOAR contact Jenny Hultquist at (402) 756-0677 or e-mail jh61626@alltel.net
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