Campers learn GPS skills

From left, campers Mark Thompson, Chant’el Cooper, Rajaye Smith, Marifloyd Wright, Vincent Gillespie, Maddi Enzmann and volunteer Jana Porter search for the next item on their scavenger hunt lists. The groups used hand-held global positioning system devices to help them locate their items.   ¦  SALLY MORROW/Missourian

COLUMBIA - Clusters of young Missourians walked the streets of downtown Columbia on Monday, staring at small electronic boxes as they competed to be the first team to finish their checklist.

The teens on the scavenger hunt, between the ages of 13 and 19, are spending four days exploring Columbia as participants in the first Entrepreneur and Geo-Spatial Summer Camp.

The camp encourages teamwork and learning tools they can use when they return home. All participants applied for the camp by writing an essay about their career goals and why they would like to attend the camp.

Besides the hunt, they will collect samples from Bear Creek, map data on computers, build business campaigns and make presentations to the group.

The entrepreneur camp was sponsored with scholarship funding from Missouri 4-H, Exceed, Missouri School of Business and others. The geo-spatial camp was made possible by University Extension, the MU Geography Department, Missouri 4-H and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Volunteers donate their time to lead the camp. MU Extension volunteer, Bill Pabst said they hope to continue this program next summer. More information about participating in next year’s camp is at 4h.missouri.edu.