Youth Range Camp Applications Available

Youth Range Camp Applications Available

Applications are now available for the 2010 Montana Youth Range Camp. This year’s camp will be held the week of June 28-July 2 at the Lion’s Sunshine Camp near the town of Elliston, Mont., and is open to all youth ages 12-18.

Students will attend outdoor classes covering four major subjects: water and riparian areas; soils and geology; rangeland monitoring; and wildlife and livestock grazing management. Students also receive instruction in plant identification and anatomy, and work in teams to solve a natural resource or range management problem, presenting their solutions to a panel of judges at the end of the week.

Along with coursework, Youth Range Camp offers opportunities for fun and recreation. Wildlife educator Vince Yannone will visit the campers with live animals and excellent stories. Campers will also have the opportunity to see Ophir Cave and visit with Montana FWP employees about lions and bears. Also planned are tours of the Grant Kohrs Ranch, the historic Old Prison and the Antique Car Museum in Deer Lodge. A dance takes place on the last night of camp.

Scholarships may available by contacting your local conservation district for more information. Additional assistance and help to run the camp is being provided by Montana DNRC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Cost for the camp is $125 and includes meals, lodging and all scheduled activities.

The 2010 Montana Youth Range Camp is hosted by the Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District. For more information, contact Heidi Olbert, DNRC Rangeland Program Coordinator at (406) 444-6619, or Susie Johnson with the Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District at (406) 846-1703, ext. 300. For more information, including an application form, visit the DNRC web site.