Summer Camp Sponsorships

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

Annually, the NNSWCD offers sponsorships to the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts Youth Conservation Camp (YCC), held on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The 2018 camp will take place July 8-14. Eligible students must be in grades 9-12 for the 2017-18 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.

The second camp, Holiday Lake Forestry Camp, will be held June 18-23 at the Holiday Lake  4-H Center near Appomattox, VA.  This camp offers students ages 13-16, from across the state (who have never attended Forestry Camp before) a week of fun educational experiences with professional forestry and other natural resources personnel. For this offering, NNSWCD sponsorships will allow two area students to attend the weeklong Camp for $85 each.  Students who are interested must be nominated by a non-related adult who knows the student well. Nominations are due to the Department of Forestry by April 9, 2018.  The nomination form may be downloaded at http://dof.virginia.gov/forestry/camp

For Youth Conservation Camp, the week’s activities include

• a tour of the VA Tech Campus,
• visit to Claytor Lake State Park for ecology and fisheries management;
• hike to Cascades Waterfall; forestry activities;
• canoeing;
• shoreline erosion, soils, agriculture activities;
• use of GIS technology; and more.

Holiday Lake Forestry Camp is an ideal way for students to meet other students from across the state while exploring

• many activities in forestry and wildlife related careers and
• experiencing hands-on learning about natural resources and conservation. 
• Classes are taught in the woods by professional foresters, wildlife biologists, and conservation resource specialists.

Deadlines for completed camp applications to NNSWCD are April 27, 2018 for Youth Conservation Camp. For more information or an application or nomination form, please contact Kathleen Watson at kathleen.watson@nnswcd.org or 804 313-9102, ext. 105. You may also see applications and other information at http://www.nnswcd.org