JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Campers across Chautauqua County can get down and dirty with nature at the Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown.

The popular outdoor attraction is offering a way to keep kids safe this summer while enjoying the great outdoors.

Campers recently took part in a day-long adventure, where they grabbed their lunch, gear and headed out to the woods. Kids like 7-year-old Avery Reiff of Jamestown, who couldn't wait to get some fresh air.

She, along with a group of others hit the trails as part of Mud Camp, one of several outdoor activities offered at the center.

"Mud is this universal element that inspires imagination and everybody can use it," said Sarah Hatfield.

Hatfield is the education coordinator and says the outdoor experience during the recent April break from school allows the kids to socialize outside the classroom, after being inside all winter. 

"So, this is really that first push for a lot of families and a lot of places to get back to normal," Hatfield said.

The center is preparing for several more events, including an eight-week summer camp that starts near the end of June, complete with social guidelines and rules for mask-wearing and hand sanitizing. 

Sarah says it'll run similar to the one held last summer that saw limited enrollment, as the Audubon remained open amid the height of the pandemic.

"And we made it through unscathed, so here's to another season," said Hatfield.

A season she says the kids need now more than ever.

"This is going to be spectacular," she said. "After a year of nothing normal. School hasn't really been normal. They haven't really gotten a chance to do a lot of the sports that they normally do. And even neighborhood play has been limited in so many ways." 

As part of Mud Camp, educators lead the campers to the highlight of their experience where they get down and dirty with nature.

"Explore some muddy areas. See what lives in the mud. See what lives under logs," said Chelsea Jandreau, a nature educator.

"Like it was squishy. And part like a little sticky, because it stuck to my boots," said Reiff.

"It's really awesome to just be able to relax and get muddy and kind of be okay with that," said Jandreau.

"Blowing off steam is one of the most important things for these kids that have been cooped up," said Senior Nature Educator Jeff Tome.

Tome led an older group of mud campers through the woods exploring the great outdoors. 

"They have a lot of energy, especially kids that spent a lot of time playing video games and spending a lot of time inside," Tome said. 

Kids like 9-year-old John Schnars of Jamestown, who has been going to the Audubon camps for years.

"Looking for animals, building forts, playing games with my friends," said Schnars. "Yeah, that was a tadpole. That was awesome."

John and his group hit the trails near the swamp. 

Just one of many cools things John and his group get to explore.

"There's a lot of cool places you can look at," Schnars said. "Like the one we're heading up right now."

While the older kids explore the trails, some of the younger campers are back playing with the mud toys or taking a swing at the tire.

Then at the end of the day, as the cleanup begins, it's time to hose them off and clean them up.

From there, the kids head back inside and get ready to head home.