By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Texas youth will have the opportunity to learn more about natural resource management this summer at the 2018 Wildlife Conservation Camp.
The camp is set for July 22-28 at the Sproul Ranch in Fort Davis, and this year’s camp hits a milestone—25 years.
“The 25th anniversary is a really big deal,” Dr. Whitney Gann, camp director, said. “We are really proud of it.”
Gann said this isn’t the first time the camp will be held in the Fort Davis area, but it is the first year the Sproul Ranch has hosted the event. The Sproul Ranch, located in the heart of the Davis Mountains, was established in 1886 and has been family owned and operated for more than 130 years.
Campers will be exposed to the field of natural resource conservation.
“They will participate in activities that our people who work in those fields may participate in,” Gann said.
She said campers will collect soil samples, learn about hunter safety and work with game wardens. One activity past campers enjoyed was an obstacle course where they participated as game wardens to identify illegal activities that may have occurred.
The purpose of the camp is to expose youth to the natural resource management field.
“A lot of us say that we didn’t even know this field existed until we got to college, especially if you come from an urban background,” Gann said. “For most of these kids, the closest exposure they get to science is doctors and nurses. We get to increase their awareness of this field of study.”
Gann said that even if these kids choose a different career path, they will still have the knowledge and understanding of natural resource conservation.
Registration for the camp is open through May 1.
Those interested should visit http://www.wildlifecamptx.org/ for the application and additional information on the camp.