SPNRD offers youth camp scholarships

The South Platte Natural Resources District has two scholarship opportunities for students wishing to attend one of two camps focusing on natural resources education this summer.

The scholarships are for high school students attending Range Camp, while middle school students (sixth to eighth grades) are eligible for ACE (Adventure Camp about the Environment) Camp.

Scholarships are offered to one student in each county (Kimball, Cheyenne, Deuel) within the district, or if there are not applications from each county, students in other District counties may earn scholarships, up to a total of three for each camp. In both cases, the scholarships pay for the cost of camp registration. Cost for Range Camp is $275.00, while ACE Camp is $190.00. Students’ families will be responsible for transportation to and from the camps.

The 49th Annual Nebraska Range Youth Camp sponsored by the Nebraska Section of the Society for Range Management, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and IANR and the Cooperative Extension Service will be held at the State 4-H Camp in Halsey June 10-14, 2013. Young people at least 14 years of age, but not over 18 by October 1 of the camp year are eligible to participate.

The camp provides education to young people in Nebraska who are interested in rangelands and practical range management. Other purposes are to:

•Develop an awareness of the extent, importance and value of Nebraska’s range resource.

•Develop an appreciation of the value of optimum range and livestock management.

•Encourage leadership and good rangeland stewardship by Nebraska youth through increased awareness of natural resources.

•Develop an awareness of information sources for evaluating management alternatives.

The program emphasizes plant-soil-animal relationships, range livestock management, ranching, economics, and wildlife habitat management. The week’s emphasis is on field and classroom activities designed to provide management education. Recreation and group competition will be an important part of the camp program.

Scholarship applications for Range Camp are due to the SPNRD by May 10, 2013.

ACE Camp, for middle school age students interested in learning more about natural resources, is sponsored by Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts.

Students who have completed sixth, seventh, or eighth grade can attend ACE Camp, which promises both fun and adventure while learning about the environment around them.

The camp brings together many of the state’s leaders to share their knowledge in the areas of soil and land, water resources, forestry, range and grassland, and wildlife and aquatics.

During the camp, students will roll up their sleeves and dig into nature, forming new understanding of environment through interactive participation. Students will enjoy the environment through activities such as the water slide, canoeing, climbing, and other adventures. Students will also learn about possible careers in the area of natural resources from the professionals who work around them every day.

That camp is also held at the State 4-H Youth Camp at Halsey June 16-19. Camp cost is $190.00 and registrations are due by May 31, 2013.

Students wanting to receive an ACE Camp scholarship must apply to the SPNRD by May 17, 2013.

Partnering with Nebraska’s NRDs to provide training are the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, University of Nebraska Extension Services, Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Nebraska Pheasants Forever.

For more information, or a registration or scholarship form for either camp, contact the SPNRD at 551 Parkland Dr. in Sidney, or call 308-254-2377. Brochures and applications are also available on the District Website, http://www.spnrd.org.