Pounding hammers and firing guns sounded through Shevlin Park on Monday. Adults dressed as characters from “Star Wars” wandered the grounds. And boys chased each other through grassy meadows.

The scene was part of the Central Oregon Cub Scouts’ day camp, taking place this week in the park just outside Bend. The Cub Scouts are learning skills like archery, knot tying and BB gun shooting. And this year’s Galactic Adventure theme combines astronomy lessons — including camp volunteers dressed up as “Star Wars” characters — with traditional camp activities.

On Monday, Cub Scout Daniel Barrett carried his den’s flag on his shoulder, among a long line of 206 campers. The white pillowcase flag was colored with “Star Wars”-theme designs by the boys in his den, which contains eight to 10 Cub Scouts. Daniel, 9, said he likes how camp gives him a chance to do a lot of activities and meet new friends.

“New people come every single year. You just have to introduce yourself at the beginning of camp,” Daniel said, who has been a Cub Scout for two years. Daniel said he joined Cub Scouts in order to learn how to tie knots and aim and fire a BB gun.

Some campers, like Zach Clinkscales, have had experience shooting guns at home.

“My whole life I’ve been around guns,” Zach, 10, said. “But I like how in Cub Scouts you actually learn gun safety. For some kids, some of the stuff you do at Cub Scouts you can’t learn at home, like shooting guns.”

While the boys lined up to learn how to shoot bows and arrows, Cub Scout Caleb Vanderhoff watched from behind the archery range entrance. Caleb, 9, has been a Cub for three years, and said his favorite activity at day camp is archery.

“It was pretty hard at first because you have to learn how to aim,” Caleb said. “Once when I was 8, other kids asked me how to shoot. It’s important to learn all the rules because if you don’t, then you don’t know Cub Scouts.”

Jenny Lund, the director for the camp, said some of the boys don’t have the opportunity to learn practical life skills at home, like learning how to pound nails into wood or tying square knots. The camp provides these activities with supervision by 50 parent volunteers per day.

The boys can earn Cub Scout achievement points at each station, which allow them to advance through four ranks divided by age. The Cubs can also earn belt loops — similar to merit badges — only offered at camp.

The boys could earn a belt loop Monday for learning the names of the planets, focusing binoculars and drawing a diagram of the solar system, Lund said.

Drew Roderick said Cub Scouts gives him a chance to work on improving his attitude at camp and at home.

“I’m better off with Cub Scouts,” said Drew, 10. “When I wasn’t in Cub Scouts, I was mean to my family and friends. I’ve learned a lot of things like working together with other people and not being as mean.”

After lunch, campers gathered around Kent Fairfield, of the Friends of Pine Mountain Observatory, as he explained the solar system. The last day of camp is quickly approaching, but Laura Getz, camp program director, said Cub Scouts provides a memorable opportunity for the boys.

“The impact on these boys is lasting and profound,” Getz said. “These boys will remember the outdoors, making friends and having fun for years to come.”