The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week announced that the first of two summer residential camps for high school students interested in pursuing environmental careers will begin June 19, at Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training center, near Carlisle, Cumberland County.

Instruction will be offered to selected students in grades 9-12, June 19, through June 25, at Kings Gap. A second camp will take place July 17, through July 23, at the Kirby Episcopal House and Chapel, Glen Summit, Luzerne County.

The ultimate goal of the camps is to introduce students to conservation and environmental careers and encourage their pursuit. From stream sampling of fish and aquatic life, to forestry skills, daily activities are planned to get students out in the field to meet and observe environmental professionals.

Participants will take part in activities exposing them to a wide range of career experiences, including water quality assessments, geology field studies and overnight camping experiences. There will be opportunities to meet conservation professionals and learn about career opportunities. The instruction and daily activities will be overseen by specialists and officials from DCNR’s bureaus of state parks, forestry and topographic and geologic survey.

After the camps, attendees will have a chance to seek internships, mentoring and job shadowing positions, and return as future camp leaders.

For ECO Camp information, contact Blue Knob State Park, near Imler, Bedford County, at 814-276-3576. The camps are free of charge.

The activities schedule for the Kings Gap-based ECO Camp follows:

· June 19 - Orientation, team building from noon to 5 p.m. at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, near Carlisle, Cumberland County.

· June 20 - Watershed, aquatic skills, introduction to recreational fishing; 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, Cumberland County.

· June 21- Aquatic studies, turtle basking structure, introduction to birds of prey, historic buildings, fossils; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Little Buffalo State Park, Newport, Perry County, and Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Petersburg, Huntingdon County.

· June 22 - Aquatic studies, introduction to trout hatchery operations, orienteering, K-9 search and rescue, geology and astronomy; 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Huntsdale Fish Hatchery and Kings Gap.

· June 23 - Timbering activities, introduction to forestry practices, sawmill operations and camping; lifeguard demonstration; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Pennsylvania State University Mont Alto Campus, Mont Alto, Franklin County and Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Franklin County.

· June 24 - Career counseling, canoeing, fishing; from 10:15 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Kings Gap, Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, York County.

· June 25 - 11 a.m. to noon, closing ceremonies at Kings Gap.

6/17/2005