The 16th annual Wilderness Day Camp was held Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Dale Hollow Damsite Day Use Area pavilion at 5101 Campground Road Celina, Tn., welcoming children ages 7 to 14 for a full day of outdoor learning and adventure. Running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event provided participants with a unique opportunity to experience the outdoors. They develop new skills, and learn about safety, and conservation. This is to disconnect from technology and experience hands-on activities in nature. The event is designed to counteract the growing disconnect between children and nature by offering hands-on education in a supportive environment. Also provides positive community engagement opportunities for youth and families.
The camp featured a variety of interactive learning stations to promote environmental stewardship and safe recreation. Youth rotated between stations covering water and boat safety, animal and insect identification, archery, and fly fishing. Wildlife experts introduced children to native species, including a Carolina box turtle, corn snake, salamanders, rainbow trout, and several insects important to the ecosystem.
Multiple local and state agencies came together to make the event possible. Partners included the Friends of Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, Friends of Dale Hollow Lake, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clay County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Clay County EMS, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery. Each organization contributed resources and expertise to ensure the camp was both educational and enjoyable.
Clay County Volunteer Rescue Squad started the rainy morning off with water and boat safety.
Paul Boyce with the Friends of Dale Hollow NFH told fascinating stories while they colored in wildlife information filled coloring books donated by Emily Granstaff a Recovery Biologist at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tennessee Field Office, Ecological Services.
A morning snack was provided with the donations made by Bank of Celina.
Danielle Galvin, PhD a Postdoctoral Research Associate from the School of Natural Resources University of Tennessee Knoxville and associates gave an interesting and engaging discussion about salamanders, a corn snake, a Carolina box turtle and local insects. The children listened and asked numerous questions by raising their hands. They also got to touch the Corn snake and Carolina box turtle.
Clay County E.M.S. discussed safety and the kids got to even get in the E.M.S. truck.
Lunch was provided by Friends of Dale Hollow Lake and Jim Evens, Diann Evens, Mark Johnson, and Karen Jonson facilitated it. The lunch was hotdogs with all the fixings, your choice of chips, Gatorade and homemade cookies and brownies made by Karen Johnson. There were over 70 hot dogs cooked on the grill, and none went to waste, all were eaten.
After lunch, Melissa Briggs with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery discussed trout, how they were raised and transported to their new home. Then the children were able to touch actual rainbow trout in a basin.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency set up targets and taught the children about the safe way of archery. They helped each child use the bow and arrow to shoot the target.
Paul Boyce with the Friends of Dale Hollow NFH taught the basics of fly fishing. No fish were harmed in this activity.
The Annual Wilderness Day Camp was a successful event that met its objectives, engaged local youth, and reinforced the importance of outdoor education in the Dale Hollow community. The event continues to thrive due to the dedication of Friends volunteers and strong agency partnerships. With deliberate efforts in recruitment, outreach, and program enhancement, the Wilderness Day Camp will remain a valued tradition for years to come.
Paul Boyce, a local fly-fishing enthusiast and one of the group’s founders, highlighted the camp’s roots in community tradition. The program was first launched in 2009 to honor the late Rev. Russell Cain, a former Celina United Methodist Church minister who established the Friends group in 2007. Since then, the camp has grown into a much-anticipated annual event, giving children valuable outdoor experiences that range from casting a fly rod to learning local history.
In addition to Wilderness Day Camp, the Friends group also promotes outdoor education year-round. Their efforts include placing rainbow trout aquariums in schools, hosting fishing rodeos, setting up educational booths at community events, and supporting local youth programs. Operating as a 501(c) nonprofit, the organization relies solely on donations and fundraising to sustain its mission.
“We don’t get any funding from the hatchery,” Paul explained. “We are donation-based. We recently got a nice donation from a family during the Kids Fishing Rodeo, and we’ve done some outreach programs. But we’re always looking for more volunteers and community support.”
Parents and participants alike praised this year’s camp as a chance for children to build confidence, develop outdoor skills, and foster a deeper connection with nature. Organizers hope the experience will inspire lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and encourage youth to choose healthy, engaging alternatives to screen time.
