Teens from across West Virginia are invited to immerse themselves
in our state’s natural resources this summer at State Conservation Camp, hosted
by West Virginia University Extension.
The camp, scheduled for June 12-16 at Camp Caesar in Webster County, offers youths the opportunity to learn about and get involved with environmental conservation and natural resources education, while participating in outdoor recreational activities.
“Conservation Camp is a great place for youths to make friends with other young people from across the state while learning about the natural world and having a great experience,” Ben Spong, WVU Extension forest operations specialist, said.
The weeklong fun, educational experience offers participants a traditional camp atmosphere with scientific components that educate about topics like responsible use of natural resources, how to read and use topography maps, the opportunity to meet experts in the natural resource field and much more.
“A lot of our campers have been introduced to topics like forestry and watershed education in school, but this camp is usually the first time they are exposed to and interact with classroom concepts up-close in the field,” Spong explained.
“It’s particularly exciting—and educational—when a camper is standing ankle-deep in a stream and discovers a new invertebrate or salamander they’ve never seen before,” he added.
Camp sessions consist of science and nature-related education, which include wildlife management, forest protection, nature awareness and conservation law enforcement. Campers also have the opportunity to pick their own outdoor recreation activities, such as archery, rowing, outdoor cooking, fishing, rappelling and more.
During the week, campers meet and work together with professionals in the wildlife and natural resources field, which includes foresters, park rangers and wildlife officers who can give insight into future career paths.
Registration is open to teens ages 14 to 17 at extension.wvu.edu/state-conservation-camp. 4-H membership is not required to attend camp.
The cost for the camp is $230. Sponsor-provided scholarships may be available to those who qualify.
In addition to WVU Extension, the camp is supported by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Division of Forestry, West Virginia State Parks, West Virginia Natural Resources Police, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, United States Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Park Service.
To learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
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CONTACT:
Hannah Booth
Assistant
Director of Marketing & Communications
WVU Extension
304-293-8701; hannah.booth@mail.wvu.edu