Two Summer Camp Sponsorships Available in 2020

Applications now available for Youth Conservation Camp and Camp Woods and Wildlife. Please click here for more information.

This summer, the Northern Neck Soil & Water Conservation District (NNSWCD) will sponsor up to two Northern Neck students’ attendance at the popular Youth Conservation Camp (YCC) held at the Virginia Tech Campus July 12-18, 2020.  

YCC is sponsored by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD). This year marks the 44th year that selected students from around the state will travel to Blacksburg for five days of experiential learning on and around Tech’s campus.  Eligible student applicants must be in grades 9-12 for the 2019/2020 school year. The fee for camp, $550.00 covers the students’ meals, lodging, activities and transportation while at camp. The District will award full sponsorships to up to two qualified students. Students are responsible for obtaining their own means of transportation to and from Virginia Tech for the beginning and end of camp.

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 with complete guidelines for student applicants can be downloaded above. Contact Kathleen Watson at kathleen.watson@nnswcd.org or at (804) 313-9102 x105. Applications are due to the NNSWCD District Office by April 24, 2020 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 22-27.  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, 2020. The nomination form may be downloaded at http://dof.virginia.gov/forestry/camp  Contact Ellen Powell, Camp Woods & Wildlife Coordinator at (434) 220.9083 or at ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov with specific questions about CWW.