Andie Balenger | Daily Press As part of the Camp Skeeter program at Lemmer Elementary, first graders were given a chance to operate a fire house that is used to put out wildfires. Students gathered at the DNR Pocket Park all day Thursday, engaging in fun camping activities ranging from writing letters home to their parents and building regatta boats to race.

ESCANABA — First grade students at Lemmer Elementary took a field trip to the DNR Pocket Part Thursday as part of their Camp Skeeter program. Camp Skeeter has been an annual event in school districts throughout the Upper Peninsula for several years, emulating day camping activities, like archery, picnicking, and fishing. Once returning back to their classrooms, students opened letters from their parents at home before drafting letters to send back.

Volunteer members of the Turkey Federation, a non-profit organization, joined the students at the park to explain their work in the community and demonstrate safe usage of pellet guns.

Students were met with a surprise guest, Smokey the Bear, near the end of their trip to the park.