Goal of Camp Program
DEC’s environmental education camps conduct week-long residential programs for eight weeks during the summer. Through hands-on, interactive education and interpretation programs for children ages 12 to 17, campers become environmentally literate and develop skills for life-long learning. The overall goal is to encourage campers’ active stewardship in the protection of natural resources and enhancement of environmental quality through actions they take in their everyday lives.
The residential camp program, which started in 1947, is an enjoyable blend of learning and recreation that heightens campers’ environmental awareness. Activities, such as sampling streams for aquatic life, netting butterflies, watching birds and hiking through forests, bring conservation concepts to life. Actions, such as recycling and careful use of water, teach environmental stewardship. Opportunities to take hunter safety courses and to develop fishing techniques provide skills for outdoor recreation and enjoyment that will last a lifetime.
Ages and Locations
DEC operates two residential summer camps for children 12- to 14-years old and two for both 12- to 14-year olds and teenagers 15- to 17-years old. The camps for younger children are Camp Colby near Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks and Camp DeBruce in Sullivan County. New in 2010, Camp Rushford in Allegany County will join Pack Forest, in the Adirondack Park near Warrensburg, in hosting older teenagers 15 to 17 during separate weeks from those for boys and girls 12 to 14. In 2009, 1,452 children attended DEC camps.
Camp History
The idea for a conservation camp grew from a meeting of the presidents of the sportsmen’s federations from seven counties: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins. They approved a program to “foster conservation education among the younger generation.” (from the 1947 Sportsmen’s Conservation Camp report). In 1947, 70 boys aged 12 to 16 attended the 10-day camp. Topics included shooting, fishing, bird dog demonstrations, basic conservation, wise land use, forestry and stream improvement.
The 1947 report concludes: “This experiment in practical, on-the-spot, conservation education for junior sportsmen appears to have been an outstanding success. Those sportsmen’s organizations who sponsored boys are to be congratulated on their cooperation and farsightedness. They will find that the effort and money expended will yield future dividends in conservation and sportsmanship that will defy measurement.”
New York State purchased Camp DeBruce in 1948 and Camp Colby in 1963. By the mid-1960s, camps were located at Lake Colby, Raquette Lake, DeBruce and Rushford for 13- to 15-year old boys. Colby was the first to go coed, with DeBruce following in 1975 and Rushford in 1983. Like today, campers came on Sunday, left the next Saturday morning, and most instruction was hands-on.
Importance of Sponsors
A majority of campers are sponsored by organizations interested in the outdoors. Sportsmen clubs continue to be an important partner in sending boys and girls to DEC camps—about 70% of the campers are supported by these clubs. Campers are selected in a variety of ways: conservation efforts during the past year, essays, poster contests, and junior membership drives. At camp, youngsters can take hunter education courses and learn more about fishing, activities that they can share with their families and friends for years to come. Sponsorship by a club helps pass on the strong tradition of hunting and fishing in New York State.
What Campers Learn About at Camp
The DEC camp program consists of a variety of workshops and activities that are designed to help the campers become more aware of the environment around them. This will stimulate their desire to participate in the sound management of our natural resources and protection of our environmental quality. The activities and workshops, a blend of learning and recreation, are conducted outdoors providing the camper with direct interaction with their environment. Skills they learn at camp, like hiking, fishing, archery and camping, will last them a lifetime.
Campership Program
The goal of the Diversity Campership Program is to provide outdoor and natural resource experiences to youth, especially from urban areas, who would otherwise not have such opportunities. Through a comprehensive program of pre-camp activities, one week at DEC camp, transportation to and from camp, and post-camp activities, the expectation is that some of these youth will one day seek higher education and careers in environmental fields. In addition, each New York State Legislator is provided with an opportunity to send one child to camp. Approximately 20% of camp slots are offered for camperships.
Workshop Descriptions for 12- to 14-Year Old Campers
Group Dynamics
The camp curriculum includes a wide range of activities that are designed to encourage campers to interact, communicate, and cooperate with one another. The campers will be provided with a number of challenge-type situations where they must work together to find solutions. Campers learn that they must depend on one another to accomplish certain goals and, at the same time, they discover some of their own personal strengths and abilities.
Principles of Ecology Workshop
Before campers can begin to grasp environmental issues and contemplate solutions to complex problems, they must understand the most fundamental ecological principles. To achieve this level of understanding, campers look at the concepts of energy flow, cycles, diversity, community, interrelationship, change, and adaptation. This activity-oriented workshop sets the stage for more detailed workshops that will be carried out during the remainder of the week.
Fresh Water Community
Campers consider the importance of water as they investigate the complex interrelationships between aquatic plants and animals and the physical factors that affect them. To discover more about aquatic communities and the importance of water, campers might perform water testing experiments, collect and compare organisms which live in ponds, lakes, and streams, and discuss water use and management. Campers will get wet during this study and old sneakers/shoes (or water shoes!) are recommended gear to bring to camp.
Field Community
Campers go out into the fields to explore and to gain an appreciation for meadow communities. Campers discover the complex interrelationships that exist between organisms which live in fields, as well as those of organisms that are not field dwellers but still depend on fields. Campers might collect and compare different field organisms and construct a food web to discover how those organisms are dependent upon one another. A line transect can be used to study the stages of field succession.
Forest Community
With all the necessary equipment, campers head to the forests where they will discover the complex interrelationships between organisms and begin to see the similarities between all communities (field, forest, and water). Campers might learn how to identify trees, search for animal homes, do a predator-prey activity, or discuss forest management while using various tools of the professional forester, such as a Biltmore stick and an increment borer.
Human Community
The week draws to a close as campers consider the role of humans as a member of the earth’s environment. In this workshop, campers develop their understanding of human interrelationships and dependence on our natural resources. Campers learn how to debate future resource needs, become more resource conscious at home through activities, or decide upon a conservation project that could improve some aspect of their hometown environment.
Hunting and Fishing Programs
Hunting and fishing have always been and will continue to be very important parts of the camp curriculum. Every camper has an opportunity to participate in the Sportsman Education program while at camp. Hunter Education is offered at all sessions for 12- to 14-year-olds. Bow Hunter Education is available during Returnee Week for 12- to 14-year-olds who are second-time campers. During the sessions for 15- to 17-year-olds, Shooting Sports is offered. These classes are presented by certified Hunter Education Instructors and Environmental Conservation Officers.
Fishing is always available to campers as an activity, whether as an organized program or during free time, including every morning before breakfast. Staff from DEC’s fisheries program regularly provides instruction at all camps. Lessons in fly-tying and fly-fishing are offered at all the camps. Many campers bring their own fishing equipment, but for those who do not, each camp has equipment that campers may borrow.
Campers leave camp with an increased understanding of our natural world and new skills for life-long outdoor recreation.
Teenage Ecology Workshop
Pack Forest and Camp Rushford offer teens who are 15- to 17-years old a chance to explore forestry, aquatic biology, wildlife management, field ecology and other environmental issues. Workshop attendees learn about professional forestry techniques, such as the use of Biltmore sticks and increment borers. The program emphasizes group dynamics and teamwork as essential to the environmental decision-making process. Staff encourages interaction, communication and cooperation as campers seek solutions to group challenge activities. Students also discover their individual strengths, interests and abilities. Campers participate in advanced outdoor workshops, as well as activities such as an exhilarating out-of-camp canoeing or backpacking trip. Optional activities during the workshop include fly fishing, hiking, swimming, shooting sports and orienteering.
a 100 years ago ecology was not even though of untill the dust bowl and then its like “what are you all thinking”
i used to play archery but quit this sport after i got some elbow surgery.`*:
Great article-would like to publish in my free newsletter for seniors but was wondering if the information applies to Washington residents as well?