Memorial Park will become a makeshift campground this Saturday when kids and parents pitch their tents on the park's grassy lawn during the first Helena Outdoors Fest.

Sponsored by Outdoor Kidfitter Co. and Capital Sports and Western, the Saturday event runs in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout.

Jennifer Harris, founder and owner of Outdoor Kidfitters on Last Chance Gulch, said the event will include demonstrations, nature hikes, informational booths and other outdoor activities, including kayaking, fly fishing and rock climbing.

Proceeds go to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Helena, the local YMCA and the Youth Outdoor Recreation Wilderness program at Intermountain Children's Home.

"I'm just trying to educate families and kids on how to get outdoors and use this beautiful playground we have surrounding us," said Harris. "A lot of people here are new and they don't know where to go and where to get the information. Events like this empower them by giving them the tools and resources they need while kicking off the summer."

So far, more than 60 people are registered to camp out at Memorial Park, though Harris said she has room for many more.

Through the event, participants can try their hand on a rock climbing wall, or get kayaking lessons in Memorial Park Pool. Cross Currents will be on hand to offer fly-casting lessons.

Other classes include outdoor cooking, wilderness first aid and mountain biking, among others.

Schedule of events

10 a.m.: iFishnFly Casting with Garret Fawaz of Cross Currents

10 a.m.: to 1 p.m.: iShoot n Archery Clinic by MT FWP Education Department n Thomas Baumeister and Kurt Cunningham

10:30 p.m.: iClimb n Rock Climbing Clinic by Kyle Perkins and the Helena Thunder Chickens

11 a.m.: iCachenGeocache Clinic with G-N-M, CERALBOXMONSTER, and MFAM4. Sponsored by Sportsman's Warehouse.

11:30 p.m.: iPaddlenKayak and Canoe Clinic at Memorial Pool. Sponsored by Capital Sports and Sportsman's Warehouse.

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: iCook n Outdoor Cooking with Kids by Capital Sports

1 p.m.: iSurvive n Wilderness Safety and First Aid with West Valley Volunteer Fire Department

2 p.m.: PlayBalll with the Brewers, Lewis the Lion and Clark the Cougar .

3: p.m.: iHike n Hike from Exploration Works to Memorial Park with Amy Sheppard.

4 p.m.: iBike n Kids' Mountain Bike Clinic by Big Sky Cyclery

Raffle Tickets, to benefit BBBS, Intermountain and YMCA, will be on sale from 10am to 4pm. Prices are $2 per ticket or 6 for $5. Drawing will be held at the Bandshell at 4:30pm. No need to be present to win.

Campout Schedule:

5:30 p.m.: Check-in

5:30-6:15 p.m.: Set up Campsites

6:30 p.m.: BBQ Dinner provided by Last Chance Kiwanis and Music by the Magpie Singers

7: 30 n 8:30 p.m.: iCache n Geocache Clinic by G-N-M, CEREALBOXMONSTER, and MFAM4.

8:30 n 10 p.m.: Campfire Storytelling by Professor Murphy Fox of Carroll College and Ron White of the Lewis & Clark Library, S'mores, and Music.

9:30 p.m.n10:30 p.m.: Star Gazing with David Rotness of the Helena Astronomical Society

11 p.m.: Lights Out

Price is $35 for family of 5.