The Kenai Watershed Forum is now accepting registrations for its many children’s summer camps.

They are available for kids ages 6 to 12 and include a variety of educational programs.

Megan Pike, the education specialist at the forum, said she’s looking forward to bringing back programs this year. She and a colleague will lead this summer’s camps for the forum.

Last summer, the forum canceled its summer events because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said even though the camps are continuing full force, they will look a little different from previous years. The sessions will be offered part time this year, in a series of pop-up day programs and two different weeklong camps.

Pike said she could feel the gap last year in the camp’s absence.

“Really what the kids have been missing is this connection to nature,” she said. “I think kids need camp this year.”

The Kenai Watershed Forum leads tech-free camps, Pike said, in an effort to minimize the kids’ screen times.

There has already been a decent amount of interest in this summer’s programming. Pike said the weeklong camps are around 80% full and the pop-ups are about 50%.

“You could tell the families were excited,” she said.

Registration forms for summer youth camps can be found at kenaiwatershed.org under the community events tab.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.