State Junior Conservation Camp Scholarships Available

 

RIPLEY, W.Va. - A limited number of scholarships are available for the 36th annual West Virginia Junior Conservation Camp, scheduled June 20-24 at Cedar Lakes in Ripley. The scholarships cover the full cost of the camp, where Mountain State youth, ages 11-14, can learn about the outdoors and protecting the state’s natural resources.

Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Youth Environmental Program, the camp offers a wide variety of classes that focus on a sound environmental education. Approximately 200 campers will learn how to conserve West Virginia’s natural resources by attending classes on wildlife, archery, recycling, canoeing, geocaching/orienteering, hunter safety, water study, forestry, fishing, nature trail exploration and more. Sports activities will include swimming, basketball, kickball, volleyball, wiffle ball and relay races.

Camp assemblies are scheduled for Monday evening, as well as Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Past camp presentations have included a snake demonstration from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR); an energy efficiency program from the DEP’s Division of Air Quality; the West Virginia Division of Forestry’s fire dog demonstration; and the DNR’s mechanical deer and turkey demonstrations. Campfire programs are set for Monday through Wednesday nights, with a dance scheduled for Thursday night.

Many dedicated and knowledgeable employees from the DEP, DNR, Division of Forestry and West Virginia University Extension Service serve as camp counselors and leaders. The cost of sending a child to camp is $172. The deadline for paying the application fee is May 1. For more Junior Conservation Camp information, application forms and to inquire about the availability of scholarships, please contact Diana Haid at 304-926-0499, Ext. 1114, or email diana.k.haid@wv.gov.

The DEP also would like to remind youth ages 14-18 that the 75th annual West Virginia State Conservation Camp at Camp Caesar in Webster County is scheduled for June 13-18. That camp is sponsored by the West Virginia University Extension Service, West Virginia Conservation Agency and several more state and federal agencies. For more information about that camp, go to www.wvconservationcamp.com or call Allen Miller at 304-293-9425.

For more DEP news and information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about our REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan), West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia Watershed Improvement Branch, Youth Environmental Program and Human Resources initiatives, connect on Facebook.

Contact:

Jake Glance
(304) 926-0499 ext. 1335
Jacob.P.Glance@wv.gov