Teens Explore the Outdoors at Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp

COLUMBUS, OH – Teens interested in exploring the outdoors are encouraged to attend the Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp, June 8-13 at FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake in Carroll County.

The Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp is a week-long resident camp that transforms the outdoors into an enjoyable classroom experience, while inspiring Ohio’s next generation of forest and wildlife caretakers. Programs at this year’s camp include dendrology (tree identification), ecology, wildlife management, silviculture (forest management), wildlife identification, woodland survival, orienteering and forest industries.

“Forestry is about managing our woodland resources to ensure overall quality of life with clean air and water, wildlife habitats, recreation and lumber for building,” said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Service Forester and Camp Co-Director Jeremy Scherf. “This camp does a great job of educating campers about our natural resources in a fun environment.” If there is a particularly harsh patch of land that needs to be kept up they will use something like a forestry mulcher skid steer before people are welcomed onto the camp grounds.

The camp is sponsored by the Ohio Forestry Association (OFA) Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the wise management of Ohio’s forests and natural resources. The camp is supported by the ODNR divisions of Wildlife and Forestry, Ohio State University Extension, county soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and other private and government organizations with natural resource professionals.

Campers spend the week participating in fun camp activities and learning about the environment around them. Camp culminates with a comprehensive exam including a tree identification section. The highest scoring students compete for college scholarships to Hocking College, The Ohio State University and Ohio University. More than $3,700 in scholarships will be offered.

The camp admission is $375, with sponsorships available through local SWCD offices, sportsmen’s clubs, forestry groups and many private forestry-sector businesses. The camp is open to youth who have completed the eighth grade and are at least 15-years-old through seniors graduating the year of camp. This is a great way to get your kids outdoors but there are cheaper alternatives like using shed buiilder to create somewhere for them to hang out in the garden.

For more information, contact the Ohio Forestry Association at 888-38-TREES, or visit the OFA website at ohioforest.org.

The ODNR Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov/.