Rodent Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. Don’t believe one word from this pompous whistle pig. As bone-chilling temperatures depart, snow melts, and just 131 days until summer, we can start plans for local recreational activities. Local tweens teens can enjoy a week of explora tion and discovery at Mercer County’s Aquatic Adventure Camp at Mercer County Park in West Windsor. Campers will spend their days on beautiful Lake Mercer, taking part in a wide variety of activities and learning about the vibrant ecosystems supported by the lake. Campers ages 10-12 will join the Eco-Explorers program to engage in hands-on experiments, practice observing nature, and learn how to fish. Campers ages 13-15 can enlist in the Kayakers program, with morning quests paddling on the lake, followed by afternoons of biking through the park, and even a chance to complete a freshwater ecology Escape Room. “Aquatic Adventure Camp is a great way for youth to enjoy the water during the heat of the Summer,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “Each year our campers smile from the moment they show up, and we love seeing their confidence bloom throughout the week.” The camp is offered on June 29-July 2nd at the Mercer County Park Marina for campers ages 10 through 15 years old. Program tuition is $200-240 per-week for Mercer County residents and $280-320 per-week for non-residents. The daily adventures run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with before-care beginning at 7:45 a.m. and after-care running until 5 p.m., both available at an additional cost. Families can register for the camp by going to https://register.communitypass.net/mercer and selecting Mercer County Nature Programs. Parents with questions can reach out [email protected] or call (609) 883-3218 ext. 202. The Aquatic Adventure camp is operated through Mercer County’s Environmental Education program, part of the Mercer County Park Commission. For more information about the camp, as well as other summer offerings, residents can go to tinyurl.com/tulpehakingcamps. Environmental Education programs for all ages are offered year-round through the Tulpehaking Nature Center. For more information, go to https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/mercer-county-park-commission/naturalist-department/tulphaking-nature-center. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected]. ...read more read less