Youth Conservation Camps: Sand Lake Conservation Camp 2019

The 13th annual Sand Lake Conservation Camp held at Camp Bird near Crivitz was again a success this year with 77 campers, representing 25 Wisconsin and one Upper Michigan counties and 22 dedicated overnight camp staff. The camp is for youth going into 6-8th grade in the fall and is organized by the Marinette County Land & Water Conservation Division (LWCD).

Conservation Camp provides positive educational outdoor experiences, fosters an appreciation for nature and introduces a variety of natural resources and conservation career opportunities to youth.

Core topics presented by Marinette County staff included aquatic macroinvertebrates, reptiles and amphibians and water pollution/conservation. Evening presentations were given by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Chip Long and Conservation Wardens Tim Werner and Dale Romback. Kim Diedrich and staff from the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay brought several native WIsconsin animals and discussed wildlife rehabilitation and conservation issues. All camp cabin competitions included a campfire building contest, a scavenger hunt and "Conservation Jeopardy", a culmination activity designed to cover information from the presenters and programs.

Other camper activities included wilderness survival skills, canoeing and kayaking, archery, t-shirt design, outdoor first aid, spinner making, and teambuilding/low-ropes challenge course activities. Choice activities were presented by Marinette County camp staff and guest speakers. Timber Wolf Information Network volunteers presented two sessions on wolf ecology, and staff from the Raptor Education Group, Inc. taught a session on raptor rehabilitation.

Camper scholarships were provided this year by several organizations and counties. Sponsors included the Marinette County Chapter of Trout Unlimited; Phoenix Falls Chapter of Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association; the Fond du Lac Audubon Society; and the Wisconsin Land+Water Conservation Association. In addition, Land & Water Conservation Departments in Douglas, Oneida, Columbia and Forest Counties joined Marinette County in providing scholarships.

Thank you to everyone who helped with Sand Lake Conservation Camp 2019 and for making it another successful event!