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23TuesdayJuly222014ByDALICARMICHAELForthersttimethisyearFortSmithyouthgottogathertheirtowelsandswimminggearforaseriesofovernightcampsatcrystallinePineLakelocatedinsideWoodBuffaloNationalPark.TheFortSmithPaddlingClubknownforitsannualSlaveRiverPaddlefestor-ganizedtheexcursionsaftersuccessfullyintroducingyouthboatinglessonstoitspre-festivallineuplastyearwithCalgary-basedpaddlingouttterAquabatics.IvealwayswantedtotrytorunanovernightcampintheparkandthisyearIwaslikethatsitImgoingtotryitnallyitsbeenbug-gingmeforsolongsaidcoordinatorGenevieveCtpreviouslyacounsellorforovernightandmunicipalcamps.IjustthinkthatourlocalkidsreallybenefitfromspendingatleastonenightoutintheparkawayfromTVscreensandgettodosomethingdifferentonthewater.WehavealltheseboatsandwehavethisbeautifullakethatweKidspracticeleadershipwaterskillsatPineLakecampPaddlefestcoordinatorintroducesovernightexcursiontoFortSmithcantakeadvantageofandutilize.TherstcamptookplaceJuly9and10withsixyouthfromtownventuringlake-sideforadayofsplashingaroundwithwatertoyscanoesandkayaksandanovernightstayatthewar-dencabinsintheparksoldrebase.Welledupthecampthereweresixkidsregis-teredanditwasablastCtsaid.Theyallmanagedtohavefunevenwhenpoorweatherhit.Wegot43mil-limetresofrainintwohoursanditwasawickedstormbuttheresnothinglikehav-ingallthekidsbundledupandplayinglittlegamesinthethunderthatshakesthecabinshesaid.Developingleadershipandsocialskillswasalsoanim-portantpartofthecamp.ItwascooltoseethekidssupportingeachothersomeofthekidsdidntknowhowtoswimandtheyallhadlifejacketsonofcoursebutotherkidswerelikeHeyyouwanttotrysomethingIllberightbesideyouCtsaid.Theywerejustsupersupportiveanditscutetoseekidstakingonlead-ershiplikethatandhelpingeachother.Thekidswerenttheonlyonesbenefittingfromtheexperience.TheparentscamebacktomeandtheyweresuperthankfulCtsaid.TheparentsseemtoreallyhaveenjoyedseeingtheirkidsallexcitedwhentheygotbackhomesoIthinkitwasaverypositiveexperienceandwelldoitagain.Thesecondcamphap-penedonJuly14and15withsixsummerstudentsfromSmithsLandingFirstNationSLFNtryingouttheprogram.Weofferedthesamethingwecookedforthemandwehadallourboatsoutthereandwewentoutonthewaterlots-itwasex-tremelyhotCtsaid.Asecondday-campwiththeSLFNstudentswillbeheldinmid-AugustthistimeontheDogRiver.WhileCtwashappywiththeturnoutshesaidafewchangeswillbemadetonextyearscamp.ShewantstoholdthecampattheMountainPortagerapidstheregularstomp-inggroundsforthePad-dlingClub.Inthebayflatwaterlessonswecandoalit-tlebitofraftingandgetsplashedinthefaceplayinthemuckandevendosomefishingandstuffsonextyearIthinkwellfocusmoreonriverstuffshesaid.WithpreparationsforPaddlefestinhighgearathirdovernightcamphadtobecancelledbutyouthcanstilltakeadvantageofanup-comingdaycampwithLukeVollmerhausfromAquabaticsonJuly28and29forteensandJuly30to31foreightto12year-olds.SportsRecreationPaddlingPhotoJean-PhilippeMarquisAnnaisAubrey-Smithtriesoutastand-uppaddleboardatlastyearsPaddlefestinFortSmith.