By Staff Writer Dave Domezik
PELHAMThis summer’s Adventure Camp, organized by Pelham Parks and Recreation, brought together learning and outdoor adventure for a group of enthusiastic young campers. Activities included archery, animal encounters, stream walks, mine treks, and more.
The 2025 Adventure Camp, which took place over two weeks in June and July, brought together 28 kids between the ages of 8 and 12 for a full week of immersive, practical activities around Jefferson and Shelby counties. The camp’s objectives are to foster curiosity, boost self-esteem, and establish enduring bonds between campers and the environment.
According to Will Mayhall, Pelham Parks and Recreation’s recreation program administrator for athletics, Adventure Camp was a huge success. Our campers had a great time discovering and taking advantage of the various family-friendly activities that are offered in the Jefferson and Shelby County region.
Every day, employees of Pelham Parks and Recreation took campers to several locations, such as the Cahaba River, Red Mountain, and Ruffner Mountain. There, they researched local fauna, traveled beautiful trails, learned about Alabama’s mining past, and participated in unusual outdoor activities.
Hiking to an abandoned mine at Red Mountain and stream walking along the Cahaba River, where children looked for fish and macroinvertebrates while learning about the river’s ecological role and history, were two of the most well-liked activities.
According to Mayhall, that mine hike was among the week’s most talked-about events. Many of the campers claimed that this was their favorite adventure.
Additionally, campers had the opportunity to get up close and personal with rehabilitating wildlife, tour animal habitats at Oak Mountain and Ruffner Mountain, and practice archery at Oak Mountain State Park. Every excursion was intended to be both entertaining and informative, and Mayhall reports that the children enthusiastically embraced both elements.
He claimed that they became fully engrossed with Ruffner, Red Mountain, and the Cahaba Stream Walk’s past. They enthusiastically participated, asked insightful questions, and expressed awe at the region’s environmental richness.
There were also some new additions to the schedule for this year’s camp. Through a collaboration with the Pelham Racquet Club, campers were taught the fundamentals of tennis, and as a reward at the end of their week, they were treated to a joyous excursion to Oak Mountain Lanes.
According to Mayhall, parents told us how much their children enjoyed the camp and how they talked endlessly about it when they got home. In order to have additional time to explore independently, several families even organized follow-up visits to some of the locations we visited.
To make their stay comfortable and unforgettable, campers received official Adventure Camp t-shirts and lunch on most days of the week. With city-supervised transportation and a team of qualified leaders following each group, the staff placed a strong emphasis on safety at every turn.
The children’s development of relationships with the environment, one another, and the local communities, however, was Mayhall’s true achievement.
According to him, campers came away with a deeper understanding of the rich history that has influenced Jefferson and Shelby County as well as the outdoors. Above all, kids learned how much fun it is to explore and learn outdoors.
After another exciting summer, Pelham’s Parks and Recreation team is already planning for the future, eager to build on the excitement of this year and keep assisting the next generation in discovering their surroundings.
Visit Pelhamalabama.gov/1291/Parks-Recreation to learn more about Pelham Parks and Recreation’s upcoming events.
