POST FALLS — Shouts of “Aye, aye, captain,” rang out from the youngest group of kids at Camp Ka-Mee-Lin at Kiwanis Park on Monday.

Camp Counselor Amber Anderson unearthed treasure the small pirates would play with and paint over the next few days.

“We’re going to make the ocean in this tent,” Anderson said. 

Camp director Craig Chambers said camp leadership started incorporating character qualities into the camp last year and brought it back this year to help kids focus on positive traits. 

About 100-120 kids attend the camp each week, many choosing to attend most of the summer sessions. 

Chambers said the kids build relationships and can delve more into skill-building. 

Campers are asked to be a number of things, including respectful, courageous, grateful and creative. 

“We have as much fun as we can but we’re also trying to practice these kinds of things and we have all summer to practice with them,” Chambers said. 

For 11 weeks, camp gives the kids experiences in Post Falls and beyond, offering field trips to Spokane for visits to the Blue Zoo and Mobius for all ages and Shoshone County for older campers to go to Wallace swimming pool. 

One of the shining lights for the campers so far has been the Ka-Mee-Lin’s got talent event. 

Chambers said he was impressed by everyone figuring out a way to perform, whether they wanted to show off a talent on their own, or lend their efforts to a group. 

“Almost everybody at camp participated,” Chambers said.  

    Felix Larimer and Amber Anderson prepare for a high-five after hanging up a jellyfish craft at Camp Ka-Mee-Lin.
  

    Amber Anderson leads her group at Camp Ka-Mee-Lin to open pirate booty as part of pirate week at the Post Falls summer camp.

    Kaylen Pinkerton works to create a fish from pipe cleaners Monday at Camp Ka-Mee-Lin during pirate week.