Vidalia, La &045; As Amanda Averrett instructed two rows of 5- and 6- year-old girls how to handle a pocketknife, boys on the opposite side of the field were practicing their archery skills Wednesday at Vidalia Upper Elementary.

The children were participants in the summer camp for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. 21 girls and 19 boys from Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday and Jonesville are in the program this summer. The theme for this year is &uot;Blasting off into Scouting.&uot;

This year’s agenda includes archery, knot tying, learning safety precautions and teaching science in a fun environment.

A tent made with black garage bags was provided for the Scouts to learn astronomy and constellations. Inside the tent hung handmade stars and a black light bulb on a table. Holes were poked in the tent to give the illusion of stars.

Tyler Stewart, 13, a Life Scout and counselor taught astronomy and constellations to the younger Scouts. Phyllis Stewart, Girl Scout Leader, said using the use of holes to illustrate constellation science was done by accident. A boy threw a rock at the plastic wall causing a small hole, she said.

&uot;Tyler used the accident to teach,&uot; Stewart said.

For Gregory Couture, 7, he learned something new during his science adventure.

&uot;I learned that the little stars away from the moon are freezing,&uot; he said.

Couture’s favorite activity so far is archery, but he is looking forward to BB shooting.

Though the children have fun with the sport and science activities, counselors don’t forget about teaching safety.

As Averrett held a closed pocketknife in the air, girls watched attentively to their leader. Make a safety circle before opening a knife, she said turning in a circle.

&uot;These rules are very important for your safety and the safety of people around you,&uot; Averrett said. The camp will be held all this week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.