Yo ho ho! The pirates of the high plains have been spotted off the starboard bow!
OK, so it’s not the stuff of a Disney movie. But it could make for a fun week at Camp Alexander.
The camp is getting ready for its summer season again, starting with a May 25 open house at the camp. And this year, one of the week-long camps is “Pirates of the Plains,” an attempt to merge the Jolly Roger with a jolly good time.
“This is going to be awesome,” said Sara Shaw of Camp Alexander, who said the week was partly inspired by the “Pirates of the Carri bean” films and partly by the success of similar programs elsewhere.
Among other things, the would-be pirates will build a pirate ship of cardboard, duct tape and trash bags that has to be able to carry at least one crew member across the camp’s lake. The activity has appeared before under other guises, most of them pretty soggy by the end of the day.
“Usually, everyone gets pretty wet,” Shaw said. “We do usually end up having one or two teams making boats that can make it across.”
The open house runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. In addition to food, visitors will get a chance to try out some of the camp’s activities, such as archery or disc golf. You can even bring your fishing tackle if you like. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served by the camp, but visitors are asked to bring a covered dish to share.
The open house is also a chance to sign up early for one of the camps at a discount. Early registration means a $10 discount for each week a child signs up for and family discounts are available. And because the Boys and Girls Club of Emporia isn’t doing a summer camp this year, Shaw’s expecting a few extra kids.
The regular weekly rate is $85 for a day camp and $150 for a residence camp, where the child sleeps at the camp. For information on costs, scholarships and programs, call 342-1386.
This year’s camps are:
F Traditional Camp (June 4-8) — Canoing, fishing, hiking, capture the flag and everything else you expect of a summer camp.
F Swamp Week (June 11-15) — Bring old clothes because this week is about mud, mud and more mud.
F Pirates of the Plains (Jun3 18-22) — Besides building pirate ships, the young buccaneers will also get to play pirate-style capture the flag.
F Bike Week (June 25-29) — Just what it sounds like. Bring your bike and ride the trails.
F Wild Water Week (July 9-13) — Canoing, water balloon fights and anything else that’s nice and wet will fill up this week.
F Survivor Week (July 16-20) — Which plants and bugs could I eat in the wild? How do I build a shelter that’ll keep me warm? How do I survive in the outdoors, period? This is the week where you find out.
F Emporia’s 150th Camp Celebration (July 23-27) — Learn different birthday traditions and some Emporia history, while also doing old-style arts and crafts.
F Last Blast (July 30 - Aug. 3) — This is the camp where the campers set the agenda. The kids pick the activities, though the mudslide and late night campfires and games are sure to be a staple.
F End of Summer Celebration (Aug. 6-10) — Similar to Last Blast, but it’s only for day campers.