A scene from last year's Pioneer Experience Camp at Faust Park.

The St. Louis area is rich in history of this country. In June, local kids can get a hands-on taste of how life was lived in four different historic periods.

The St. Louis County Parks have scheduled day camps next month to introduce local elementary and middle school kids to life in earlier times.

The camps are:

• Revolutionary War Summer Camp, at the Bissell House and Museum, June 10-13. For ages 8-15. For information, call (314) 868-0973.
  
  
• Pioneer Experience Camp, at Faust Park. There will be two five-day camping sessions, June 17-21 and June 24-28. For ages 8-13. For information, call (636) 532-3100.
  
  
• Civil War Summer Camp, at Jefferson Barracks Park, June 17-20. For ages 8-15. For information, call (314) 544-8714.
  
  
• World War Summer Camp, at Jefferson Barracks Park, June 24-27. For ages 8-13. For information, call (314) 544-8714.

Kids try on mountain man coats during the Pioneer Experience camp.

There are fees for all the camps. Young Saint Louis.com is publishing this information early because advanced registration is required.

At all four camps, there are special pre- and post-camp hours for kids whose parents work. Adult supervision will be offered for up to two hours before camps open and also two hours after the camps close.

There will be an extra charge for this pre- and post-camp hours.

Here's a brief rundown of the schedules of the four camps:

* The Revolutionary War camp is four-days long, Monday-Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This camp will cover both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 periods. Adult leaders will be dressed in uniforms and costumes of the period. Every afternoon, kids will join in games from that period, including 9-pin bowling, croquet and wooden egg races.

There's a tour of Fort Bellefontaine, the first American fort west of the Mississippi River. From this fort, American went to fight the British in the War of 1812 in both Canada and in New Orleans.

One day, kids will design and built their own model forts. There will be chances to cook a pioneer meal, including making corn cakes. These are like pancakes but made with ground corn meal.

Kids also will learn about orienteering. That's finding your way with only a compass and topographical maps. There also will be an afternoon of swimming at the "old fishing hole."

A scene from the Pioneer Experience Camp at Faust Park.

* The Pioneer Experience camp is a five-day camp, Monday-Friday. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Highlights of this camp include Mountain Man and American Indian days. Also, they'll learn about pioneer cooking. There will be chances to learn about food preservation. That was all done without refrigeration.

Other hands-on chances include metal- and wood-working. Kids will learn to make "tree nails." Those are wooden pegs used to holds logs together in houses and barns. They also will learn how to spin wool and make felt cloth.

There's also a gardening day where kids get to harvest early peas and lettuce. They also will make cornhusk dolls. All leaders in the camp will be in pioneer costumes.

Last year's Civil War camp

* The Civil War camp will be four days, Monday-Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This camp will include learning about military and civilian life in the Civil War period. One hands-on activity will involve making a bed. That included ropes for springs and straw-filled mattresses.

Kids will play Civil War era baseball. The rules were different from today's game. For one thing, a fielder could make an out if he caught the ball on one bounce. Also, the batter told the pitcher where he wanted the ball thrown. Rough language wasn't allowed. If a player swore, the game was stopped and the player had to apologize to the crowd.

There will be marching drills and kids will learn how to load rifle shells. There is a tour scheduled in the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, where seven Congressional Medal of Honor soldiers are buried.

Kids also will make a meat stew and also learn to churn butter by hand.

The camp ends when kids divide into two "armies" and take part in a mock battle.

* The World Wars camp is four days, Monday-Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kids will be introduced to the life of a soldier and an ambulance driver in World War I. They also learn about army and navy life in World War II. Adults dressed in period uniforms will portray American, British and German soldiers.

A World War II veteran will talk of his war experiences, especially his part in the Battle of the Bulge. This famous battle was a turning point in the Allied Forces' in western Europe. It was the last major counter-attack by German forces.

Kids will divide into a group of seven "nations." Two nations get into a war and the others have to either pick sides or decide to stay neutral.

In another hands-on experience, the kids develop their own USO show. The USO was a wartime organization that put on entertainment for American soldiers.

For detailed information about these and other St. Louis County summer camps, log on to the county's website at www.stlouisco.com.