Eighty-one high-schoolers attended this year’s South Dakota Wildlife Federation Youth Conservation Camp, thanks in part to an RMEF grant that helped cover lodging, meals, transportation and materials. The week-long camp was held in early June at Camp Bob Marshall in the Black Hills.
Run by volunteers, since 1964 the camp has been dedicated to enriching the lives of South Dakota youth who show interest in wildlife and the outdoors. Campers experience hands-on learning in conservation, natural resource management, shooting sports, hunting, fishing, hiking and more, all while building lifelong friendships with other youth from across the state.
During the week the kids worked on a series of habitat improvement projects. They completed a cleanup along Rapid Creek and painted trees to deter beavers. On their last day of camp, the youth assisted South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks with removing more than 2 miles of old fence from a burn area near Mount Coolidge in Custer State Park.
“With the grant that was awarded, we were able to sponsor more campers to attend the youth conservation camp, and help pay for the non-profit camp expenses,” said Jayden Halsey, assistant camp director. “With the classes [taught by] the many volunteers, campers learned many new skills including how to be a better hunter, angler and partner in conservation.”