Among the oldest camps of its kind in the United States, the 70th annual West Virginia State Conservation Camp is scheduled for June 13-18 at Camp Caesar, near Cowen in Webster County.
Camp registrations are being accepted for youth, ages 14-18. The registration fee is $150 and scholarships are available to help cover costs. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is one of several sponsors of the annual event and will be providing staff instructors, as well as camp scholarships through various DEP programs.
Named one of the “55 Good Things About West Virginia” by The State Journal, the State Conservation Camp has had more than 16,000 young people attend since it first began. In recent years, the camp received one of only four national “Honor Roll Awards” presented by the Izaak Walton League of America.
The camp focuses on teaching young people about West Virginia’s natural resources and how to be responsible stewards of the environment.
Campers spend mornings learning about the state’s natural resources in a block-schedule format. Subject areas include: forestry, soil conservation, water resources, fish management, game and non-game wildlife management, natural resource and environmental law enforcement, parks and recreation, and youth environmental initiatives.
Afternoons provide a wide variety of opportunities to further experience the outdoors, including a trout stocking event, a turkey trapping exhibition and a firearms safety demonstration. Other activities include: trap shooting, archery, boating, outdoor cooking, rifle marksmanship, rappelling, and fishing.
For more camp information and to register, contact Alan Miller, camp secretary/treasurer, at 304-358-3298; or mail to HC 32, Box 33, Upper Tract, WV., 26866. Information also is available on the camp’s website: http://wvconservationcamp.com.