The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is putting a new twist on an annual event.
In 2018, the parks department had plans to hold the first-ever “Great Columbus Camp-Out.” However, the event was canceled due to extremely heavy rain. In 2019, the camp-out went on as planned, with residents pitching tents in Mill Race Park, staying overnight and participating in various activities.
Recreation manager Jacob Hendricks said that the department wants the Great Columbus Camp-Out to be a “community institution” that people look forward to every year. So the idea of canceling it in 2020 was less than appealing.
After considering COVID-19 and meeting with its community partners, the parks department decided that the best option was to turn the camp-out into a camp-”in” this weekend, with families completing activities at home rather than in Mill Race.
Hendricks said that for the camp-in, the parks department reused a model from their 2020 summer programming: Camp in a Box. The boxes contained everything needed for day camp activities, which families could complete at home.
In the same vein, “The Great Columbus Camp-In” takes all of the event’s activities and materials, puts them in a box and sends the boxes out to registered families.
“It’s a lot of the same activities that you normally would do at Mill Race Park for the actual camp-out, but this year, you get to do it at home,” he said. “You can do it indoors. If you have a big backyard, you can do it in your backyard. You can go to any city parks and use those. So it’s just a lot of the same, fun, outdoor education activities, but you can do them all kind of in the safety and comfort of your own living space.”
Hendricks added that a lot of the activities can be done inside, if participants don’t have access to a backyard.
He said that the activities include:
“Hobo dinners,” with ingredients provided that can be cooked over a fire or over the stove.
Supplies for building a backyard tent.
“Outdoor survivalist” activities such as knot-tying, exploration and wildlife identification.
Outdoor games.
There will also be videos posted on the parks and recreation department’s Facebook page that go along with the camp-in.
While registration for the event is closed, Hendricks said that there are still some boxes left and said that families can still sign up to participate. According to the parks department’s website, the cost is $50 per box per family of four with $10 per each additional person. Families of more than six people are asked to sign up for a second $50 family box.
Hendricks said that boxes will delivered on Friday. While the activities are intended for this weekend, “Families can choose to do the box at their own pace and on different dates.”
Overall, Hendricks said that he hopes the event helps kids learn at an early age about the fun they can have outdoors and what they can learn about nature.
“The whole reason why we do the camp-out is to really have that outdoor education in our parks department but also make it fun, entertaining — not only for the kids, but also the entire family,” he said.
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What: The Great Columbus Camp-In
When: Boxes will delivered on Oct. 16. Hendricks said that while the activities are intended for this weekend, Oct. 17-18, “Families can choose to do the box at their own pace and on different dates.”
Cost: $50 per box per family of four with $10 per additional person. Families of more than six people are asked to sign up for a second $50 family box.
How to register: Visit the parks department’s website and click on the “register online,” then select the camp-in from the activity list OR call the Donner Center at (812) 376-2680.
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