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Field schools create conservation ambassadors

Sentinel photo by DOYLE DIETZ
Donating their services to serve as instructors at the Wildlife Leadership Academy Field Schools are top professionals and authorities in their field, like Rod Bates of Koinania Guide Service, left.

MADISONBURG – Most often, attending a Wildlife Leadership Academy Field School is described as a life-changing experience by participants.

Designed for participants between the ages of 14-17, the WLA is holding five specialized field schools designed to engage and empower high-school age youth to become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a sustained wildlife, fisheries and natural resource legacy for future generations. A year-round program, following the rigorous five-day, four-night summer field schools focusing on wildlife and fisheries biology, conservation and leadership skills development, it continues with community outreach through education, service, media engagement, creative arts and outdoor mentorship.

Once completing the program participants are certified as a Conservation Ambassador and receive a letter of recommendation for college applications, an official document that acknowledges time spent on community outreach, an opportunity to obtain three college credits through Cedar Crest College. Conservation Ambassadors are eligible to apply to return to the program the following year to serve as a youth mentor tuition free, attend a professional wildlife or fisheries conference, compete for college scholarships, attend college visit days to schools that have wildlife, fisheries and conservation programs and join an Academy Alumni Network of more than 100 wildlife, fisheries and conservation professionals.

Although the official deadline has passed for this year, applications will be accepted until all the courses are filled for the year. Forms are available at www.wildlifeleadershipacademy.org

This year’s field schools are Pennsylvania Bucktails, Tuesday-Saturday, June 11-15, at Camp Krislund, located near Madisonburg in Centre County; Pennsylvania Bass, Tuesday-Saturday, June 18-22, at Camp Krislund; Pennsylvania Brookies, Tuesday-Saturday, July 23-27, at Seig Conference Center in Clinton County; Pennsylvania Drummers, Tuesday-Saturday, July 23-27, at Camp Krislund; and Pennsylvania Gobblers, Tuesday, July 30-Saturday, Aug. 3, at Camp Krislund. Scholarship support is available as part of the application process.

“We are looking for highly motivated students age 14-17 with an interest in wildlife and or fisheries conservation and the outdoors,” WLA executive director Michele Kittell said. “Applicants will be selected based on academic achievements and activities, non-academic achievements and activities and a personal essay.

“Eligible applicants will be invited to submit an essay upon which final acceptance will be decided. Tuition Cost is $500, which includes housing and meals. … Uf requesting scholarship support a scholarship application will be received during the application process.”

At the Pennsylvania Bucktails field school the focus is learning about our state mammal, the whitetail deer, including its habitat needs, biology, management and more from a team of wildlife and outdoors professionals from various agencies and conservation organizations. They include the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Army Corp of Engineers, Penn State Extension, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Quality Deer Management Association.

At the Pennsylvania Bass field school the focus is learning about bass and warm water conservation, focusing on the Susquehanna River watershed. A team of fisheries and warm water conservation professionals from various agencies and conservation organizations, including Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, teach at the school.

At the Pennsylvania Brookies field school the focus is learning about our state fish, the brook trout, its biology, cold water conservation and more. Sessions are held along a beautiful fly-fishing stream in central Pennsylvania near Lock Haven, with instructors from the Pennsylvania Fish and Board Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Penn State Extension, SeaGrant, Clearwater Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.

At the Pennsylvania Drummers field school the focus is learning all about our state bird, the Ruffed Grouse, its habitat needs, biology, management and more with teachers from various agencies, conservation organizations, universities and more.

Included are representatives from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Penn State Extension, Ruffed Grouse Society, West Virginia University, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Powdermill Nature Reserve.

At the Pennsylvania Gobblers field school the focus is on learning about wild turkey in Pennsylvania, including its habitat needs, biology, management and more from instructors from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the National Wild Turkey Federation and other conservations.

Information about Wildlife Leadership Academy field schools is available by contacting Kittell at mkittell@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org or (570) 245-8518.

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