“Conservation: We’re All In”

                Area youth gathered once again at Mallo Camp north of Newcastle, WY to participate in the Black Hills Natural Resource Youth Camp June 12-14^th. The purpose of this camp is to give youth the opportunity to experience a wide variety of activities and educational sessions teaching them about the natural world and its resources. Other activities included fishing, the Wildman Hike which teaches kids about predators and prey relationships, a talent show, and various games.

            Each child participated in six educational sessions they included: “Bears, Bears, Bears”, “Soils”, “Tremendous Trees”, “and Casting for Food”, “Wilderness Scavenger Hunt”, and “Target Practice”.

            “Soils” presented by Lacey Sloan with the Weston County Natural Resource District taught campers about different types of soils and soil profiles.

Jessie Halverson, with Project Learning Tree presented “Tremendous Trees” where campers learned about the parts of the tree and what trees need to survive.    

In the session “Bears, Bears, Bears” Christina Schmidt; WY Game and Fish; explained to the youth how bears interact with each other, their habitat, how much food they need to survive, and showed the kids different bear hides.

            John Marshall & Danny Helwig taught campers all about “Casting for Food”. This activity taught campers how to cast, fish, and properly care for caught fish. Campers were allowed to practice their casting skills and catch fish.

“Wilderness Scavenger Hunt” presented by Jessica Weathers, a Private Lands Biologist, had the kids search nature for items related to animals and their habitats. Items the kids found included a woodpecker hole, bird nest, items animals would eat (seeds, insects, berries), and other animal homes.

            Finally, Bob Pollo and Karsen Kellebrew had “Target Practice”. They taught youth how the correct way to shoot a bow and arrow, safety while shooting and let the kids do a little “target practice”.

Sponsors for the Black Hills Natural Resource Youth Camp were the Campbell County Conservation District, the Powder River Conservation District and the Weston County Natural Resource District. We would also like to express or thanks to the Campbell County Community Public Recreation District for the grant they awarded us for camp.