CANFIELD- Three different summer camps are being offered to area Cub Scouts as a way to prepare them for Boy Scouting.
Brandon West, program director at Camp Stambaugh, said the overnight camp for scouts and their parents is one camp that prepares the young scouts for being away at camp while taking part in BB air rifle shooting, archery, swimming, campfires, crafts and field games.
He said the camps get as many as 300 scouts. The theme this summer is ''Space and Science Exploration.''
West said there are also day camps, Cub Scout resident camps and Webelos resident camp.
"The scouts gradually stay longer at camp and become more efficient with the different activities and better prepared to be at camp by themselves," West said.
He said while Cub Scouting is for grades first to fourth, Webelos is for fourth and fifth.
"The older the scouts become they learn more traditional scouting skills to prepare them for boys scout camp,'' West said.
West said the young scouts have their parents also attend and be part of the camp.
Colby Turon, 8, of West Farmington, said he wanted to come to camp for the swimming, BB shooting and archery. Turon, who was there with his mother, Meg, Pack 4076 leader, said the camp is something he is glad he signed up for and offered more than he expected.
"It has been a lot of fun. I thought it would just be camp with a lake but there is a lot here," he said.
Meg Turon said her son and the other scouts were excited about the camp and getting to swim and try archery.
Daniel Casey, 7, of Mentor, said he wanted to enjoy the archery and other activities and has improved his skills since coming to the camp.
The scouts met at Camp Stambaugh for the 21-hour program geared toward the first-time camper. West said the intent is to give the younger novice camper a taste of what is offered at the camp.
Packs from Cortland, Girard, Warren and Parkman were among those in attendance.
The Greater Western Reserve Boy Scout Council serving families in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Mahoning, Trumbull counties and the eastern portion of Portage Counties of northeast Ohio.