Participants of the camp take part in a recycling relay to demonstrate which items can be recycled or reused.
Campers catch items, including tadpoles and small fish, in the wetlands at the conservation area.
Meigs County Wildlife Officer Chris Gilkey shows campers the types of items which are carried in a Wildlife Officers truck.
Campers venture into the wetlands to look for fish, tadpoles and other water creatures.
Hannah Ridenour practices shooting a bow and arrow with instruction from Wildlife Office Chris Gilkey.
Campers test their eye sight to find their dominant eye before shooting a bow and arrow.
RUTLAND — Thirty kids ranging from fifth grade to eighth grade took part in the annual Leading Creek Watershed Camp recently held at the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation Area.
Campers spent two days learning about nature and different jobs that involve the outdoors.
The camp first began in 2004, and has been held each year since 2006. Each year between 30 and 50 kids take part in the various activities to learn more about nature.
Each year the camp — and the conservation area — continue to expand to provide more nature-based activities for the youth.
While there were no snakes or birds this year (they have been present in the past), there were still plenty of activities to enjoy.
The camp, which is organized by the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District, includes several presenters and volunteers.
The two-day camp featured hands-on nature activities, crafts, outdoor games, hiking, lessons about the importance of clean water and natural resource conservation, and learning about camping and survival techniques in the outdoors.
Instructors at the camp are staff members of the Meigs SWCD, Forked Run State Park, Ohio University, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension and many other agencies.
The Meigs Soil and Water Conservation Area is located just off New Lima Road near Rutland, in the Leading Creek Watershed, and features outdoor activities for nearly everyone.
The conservation area is 174 acres that include wetlands, prairies, streams and ridges.
The 2.5-acre wetland was constructed in 2008 and is home to many water creatures as the youth at the camp discovered.
The area is open to the public for general use, hiking, bird watching and other activities. There is a 1.5-mile hiking path and a quarter-mile walking path on the property which can be used by the public. A shelter house constructed a few years ago can also be used for picnics at the conservation area.
In addition, school groups can schedule educational field trips to the conservation area through the Meigs Soil and Water office.
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