If you’ve got a boy, (or girl, for that matter) I don’t know what could possibly say “SUMMER” any more than spending a week at Outdoor Education Laboratory (OEL). My son was able to attend session 4 this summer, June 22-26, 2009; which just so happened to be that week of June when it was HOT. Ridiculously hot. I felt absolutely horrible as I sent him out the door that first day… ’til I remembered spending many hot weeks at YMCA Camp Gravois in Versailles, MO as a kid! Anyone else go there?!?
This camp was the perfect way for a young kid to “try out” the camping experience without having to sleep over. OEL has been around since 1976 and is really a nature and outdoor discovery program. (I think it’s even referred to as “bug camp” by a few of my son’s friends.) It was actually developed by KC-area teachers, and due to its location, serves mainly kids from southern Kansas City as well as from the Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and Olathe school districts. K-6th graders are welcome. There are actually two campsites, and you sign up for one or the other. The day camp lasts 5 days and goes from approximately 9am until 3:30pm. Activities include fishing, canoeing, insect cages and flower identification to name a few.
My son came home each day absolutely FILTHY. And I don’t mean a few grass stains and dirt-under-the-nails filthy…I mean soaking wet with creek “debris” inside his shoes, socks and underpants. He was red-cheeked and smelled like, well, someone that had spent 6 hours in the relentless heat. When pressed as to why he didn’t choose to swim–and cool off–he said, “because I wanted to hold the snake/lizard/ferret/hedgehog/(insert random animal here).” And parents–don’t think you get to escape the experience–on the last day, we trekked out to camp to have a cookout lunch with our campers. Imagine how excited I was to cook over an open flame when the heat index was 110! An exercise in patience, to be sure.
OEL camp was a great experience for my son. It wasn’t cheap–$145 for the week–but I think he’d tell you it was well worth it. Also–word to the wise–like many summer camps in KC, this one books up quickly! Registration typically opens in March for the summer sessions and they are usually full within a few days (or hours). Even though it’s already July, you might still find spots at other KC camps for the rest of the summer. Check our 2009 Summer Camp Directory for lots of ideas!
The product arrived quickly and my Grandson can’t stop playing it. He says it’s awesome.
Camp Gravois!! Yes! The greatest summer week of my life. I went the summer after 3rd grade..about 1981.
I live in Hawaii now but was searching for it because they have no good old American summer camp here in Hawaii for my kids and was so sad to see it had gone away. I wish there was an alumni site for that camp.
Chris
Camp Gravois was absolutely the best experience in my life! I went for maybe 4 summers by myself then with 2 best friends. 14 years later my son attended for 2 summers and they, too, were some of the best experiences of his life! How sad that it has virtually “disappeared”. I go by Versailles on my way to the Lake and sometimes dream of searching it out and exploring what’s left. The “raggers” candle ceremony impressed upon my life the “I’m Third” philosophy. Does anyone else remember that? The mess hall, the bonfires, the cabins…I wish I could find something even close to Camp Gravois for my grandkids. Would love to reminisce with anyone else nostalgic about this camp.
I started going there in 1965 till 1973 both as a camper and also on staff. yes Raggers and going to the lake, singing in the mess hall. I remember Mom who was the cook coming out with a meat cleaver. then later there was a lady who lived just down the road as a cook and she brought both her daughters to help her. I spent a year as the wrangler and still have a imprint in my thigh in the shape of a horseshoe to remember it by !
LOL