By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Texas youth interested in wildlife and natural resources can participate in the Texas Brigades summer camps.
“Texas Brigades summer camps are a true experience. They are not your typical summer camp,” Natalie Wolff, executive director of Texas Brigades, said. “They’re intense, but they’re really fun. These kids, when they’re coming through, they are learning from the top field and collegiate professionals in the state, who not only funnel their passion for land and water but also offer insight on ag-related career opportunities and businesses.”
The Texas Brigades is a nonprofit organization with wildlife-focused leadership development programs to bring wildlife programs to high school youth.
There are nine different camps this year:
– Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade: June 10-14
– South Texas Buckskin Brigade: June 12-16
– South Texas Bobwhite Brigade: June 18-22
– South Texas Ranch Brigade: June 25-29
– Bass Brigade: July 6-10
– Waterfowl Brigade: July 13-17
– Ranch Brigade: July 18-22
– North Texas Buckskin Brigade: July 24-28
– Coastal Brigade: July 26-28
“There’ll be some intricacies and differences, obviously, in the type of wildlife or species or natural resources that they’re learning,” Wolff said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “But overall, they’re going to be immersed in all of the sciences: ecology, biology, botany, even agronomy. So, while learning those sciences, they’re going to be learning wildlife habitat and land management principles, all while folding in leadership and public speaking skills, even team building elements.”
In addition to learning more about wildlife, students bring home other lessons about careers in natural resource conservation from the five-day camps.
“We have professionals across all the fields,” she said. “So, they’re learning from all the professionals in the field that have their different experiences and abilities to connect those kids to the natural resources.”
Wolff noted the camp locations are purposefully distributed across the state to encourage kids from all areas and walks of life to participate.
“While there’s differences in each of the camps, the principles are the same, the structure is the same. Any camp they go to—whether it’s based on their interest, the location or even the date—they’re going to be getting brigade elements from the top professionals across the state,” Wolff said. “It’s an opportunity to come and not only learn all of these skills but to network and meet new friends who have the same passions or excrement about the outdoors that they do.”
The camps are open to Texas youth ages 13 to 17.
Applications are available at the Texas Brigades website and are due by March 15.
Tuition is $500, and financial assistance may be available.
Notifications of camp selections will be made on April 15.
For more information and to apply, visit texasbrigades.org/applications or email camps@texasbrigades.org.