Events | Featured | News | StudentsAugust 17, 2024

Cub Camp, Best Camp

Written By: Ian Silvester

A student’s first tradition, Cub Camp, began Wednesday with tunes, cheers – maybe a couple of tears – carts and dollies rolling from car to room, unpacking boxes and some comforts of home, and the goodbyes of parents wishing their child success.

And that was only the beginning.

The four-day camp at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith kicked off with nearly 200 incoming students moving into their new digs at the Lion’s Den. Later that evening, students had a chance to mingle and settle into their new space at “The Kickback,” held in the Lion’s Den Courtyard before Cub Camp officially got underway Thursday morning.

After finding their color camp groups, students went to the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC) for icebreakers and an opening session led by Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley. After dismissing for lunch on the campus green, color camps came back together and strategized for the Cub Camp Games and Color War, which featured relay races and capture the flag.

“This year, as a whole, Cub Camp is a competition, and it hasn’t ever really been like that,” explained Maggie Heppner, junior media communications major and Cub Camp director. “Camps competed to win the Cub Camp Cup. … Looking at student feedback from last year, they all said they wished there were more competitive elements.”

When Maggie and her fellow Cub Camp student directors realized this, they saw it as an opportunity to not only do something new but also retain students throughout the Cub Camp experience and beyond.

“They had a reason to come back,” she said.

Cub Camp staff embraced breaking tradition while keeping the essential elements of camp the same. Maggie said she hoped the blend of innovation and tradition made the Cub Camp a more inclusive environment for all.

Jayden Robinson, a sophomore media communications major and Orange Camp counselor described Cub Camp as a high-energy event from start to finish. As a first-time counselor, he hoped his excitement would be contagious so that others would follow in his footsteps next year.

“Go for it,” he exclaimed.

After all the fun and excitement, Dr. Dave Stevens, UAFS dean of students, announced this year’s Cub Camp Alumni Hall of Fame. Jeremy Wann, Jasmine Smith, Josh Simonds, and Stephanie London were the inductees. He also announced the winning camp for the first-ever Cub Camp Cup: Red Camp.

One such tradition that remained the same was the candlelight ceremony on Saturday night. This ceremony marked the close of Cub Camp and the beginning of the new year and adventure for the nearly 400 campers.

“Cub Camp was amazing,” said Blue Camp student Nic Damato. “The best part of Cub Camp is meeting new people. You get to make new friends, learn about the campus, and it’s just a great time.”

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