Spend a week in the field learning about deer from some of the top wildlife biologists and managers in the state through the Wildlife Leadership Adventures Program.

Wildlife Leadership Adventures is a new cooperative education initiative focusing on wildlife ecology, management, and leadership development for Pennsylvania youth ages 14-17.

The 2008 Bucktails field camp will be held July 8-12 at the Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County

The Program involves state agencies and conservation organizations and is coordinated and administered by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education.

The Program brings the knowledge and expertise of Audubon PA, Game Commission, Pennsylvania State University, the Ruffed Grouse Society, the Pennsylvania Deer Association, Quality Deer Management Association, and the US Army Corps of Engineers directly to high school students.

The goal of this program is not to develop future wildlife professionals, but rather to equip future leaders from all walks of life with a better understanding of wildlife and conservation.

This is a year-round program that begins with an intensive five-day residential field camp focusing on a single species as a springboard for exploring ecological concepts and management issues.

In July 2007, WLA held its first wildlife camp, Pennsylvania Bucktails, which focused on white-tailed deer ecology and management in the Commonwealth. Selected to participate were twenty teens with demonstrated scholastic and/or extra curricular achievements from all over the state.

The WLA dynamic team of instructors included Gary Alt, Pete Duncan, Chris Rosenberry, Merlin Benner, Tim Smail, Walt Cottrell, Bob Frye, Gary Abdullah, Jeannine Tardiff, Jeff Krause, and others. The week was electric. Students and instructors left the camp feeling energized and enthusiastic.

To attend the camp, youth commit to conducting at least three public outreach programs on their experience when they return home. Youth prepare for this aspect of the program with a curriculum emphasizing leadership skill development such as team building activities, public speaking experiences, and skill sessions with media professionals in television, radio and print media.

WLA staff mentor the youth throughout the year enabling them to conduct their outreach activities by connecting them with opportunities and resources. As of November 2007, the youth have conducted over 25 outreach programs and service projects, had 123 contact hours with the public, and reached an audience of over 979 people across five counties in the state.

2007 participants came from the following counties: Columbia, Berks, Schuylkill, Mercer, Dauphin, York, Philadelphia, Franklin, Bucks, Luzerne, Monroe, Allegheny, Erie, Butler, Susquehanna, Perry, and Crawford.

This unique program aims to instill a long-term commitment to conservation action. Please help us encourage conservation outreach efforts in these teens by featuring them and their activities in an article or story.

. Tuition for the Program is $350, which includes room, board, and educational materials. Don't let tuition costs stop you from applying -- scholarships are available to help defray tuition costs. Scholarship application information can be found on the general application form.

For more information, to download application materials, visit the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education website or contact the program director, Gail Farmer, at 610-756-3194; or send email to: gfarmer@piceweb.org.

1/18/2008