Summer Camp Sponsorships

In an effort to promote conservation and natural resources to area youth, the Northern Neck Soil & Water Conservation District (NNSWCD) offers students residing in the Northern Neck sponsorships to two separate summer camps each spring.

The Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts’ Youth Conservation Camp (YCC) will celebrate its 43rd year in 2019 when students from around the state travel to Blacksburg for five days of experiential learning on Virginia Tech’s campus.  This year’s camp will take place July 7-13.  Eligible students must be in grades 9-12 for the 2018-19 school year. The fee for camp, $550.00 will cover the students’ meals, lodging, activities and transportation while at camp.  Students are responsible for obtaining their own means of transportation to and from Virginia Tech for the beginning and end of camp. The District will award full sponsorships to up to two qualified students. 

YCC participants can look forward to activities such as touring the VA Tech Campus, visiting Claytor Lake State Park for ecology and fisheries management; hiking to Cascades Waterfall; forestry activities; canoeing; learning about shoreline erosion, soils, agriculture activities; using GIS technology; and more.

Youth Conservation Camp applications can be downloaded here. Contact Kathleen Watson at kathleen.watson@nnswcd.org or at (804) 313-9102 x 105. Applications are due to the NNSWCD District Office by April 26, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.

The second camp, Camp Woods & Wildlife (formerly known as Holiday Lake Forestry Camp), is held at the Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox, VA. This year’s camp runs June 17-22, 2019.  Virginia students ages 13-16 learn about the many career tracks available in conservation, forestry and natural resources. Students interact with various professionals in these fields as they learn about how sustainable forest management can serve society while preserving the environment. NNSWCD sponsorships will allow two area students to attend the weeklong Camp for $85 each. 

Camp Woods & Wildlife is an ideal way for students to meet other students from across the state while experiencing hands-on learning about natural resources and conservation. Classes are taught in the woods by professional foresters, wildlife biologists, and conservation resource specialists.

Students who are interested must be nominated by a non-related adult who knows the student well. Nominations are due to DOF by April 10, 2019. The nomination form may be downloaded at http://dof.virginia.gov/forestry/camp   Contact Ellen Powell, Camp Woods & Wildlife Coordinator at (434) 220.9083 with specific questions about CWW.