With summer heating up, it’s time to get ready for all of the fun our area parks have to offer the family.

It’s no secret the tri-state area is steeped in American history from the pioneer days. Some of America’s most prominent settlers came through and made homes in the area. This summer, Wilderness Road State Park will continue offering guides that will demonstrate what aspects of pioneer life was like.

Wilderness Road State Park is hosting its annual Junior Pioneers camp with two sessions, June 18-22 and June 25-29, for ages 6 to 12. Participants will be given the opportunity to uniquely explore and learn about their local park while discovering the ways of those that bravely traveled the Wilderness Road.

Participants meet with the folks at Martin’s Station from 9 a.m. to noon and experience Virginia’s frontier like never before with the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers through hands-on activities.

Those activities include: 18th century gardening, Native American crafts, fire starting, fishing and more. On the final day, each participant will receive a certificate of completion, certifying them as Wilderness Road State Park Junior Pioneers.

This year’s camp will include a Junior Pioneers collector t-shirt, crafts and refreshments for just $20 for each child for the entire week.

The registration deadline is June 13 to allow the park enough time to order the custom t-shirts. For more information or to register, please call the park office at 276-445-3065.