Sponsorship of Range Camp

The Nevada Wildlife Federation helps sponsor the annual Nevada Youth Range Camp where high school students from throughout Nevada learn about range eco-systems and their management. 

Home on the Range - by Chris Freeman

The United States Forest Service Campground at Big Creek, south of Austin, Nevada, was home for twenty-seven high school students this June. It was the Thirty-eighth year for the Nevada High School Youth Range Camp that is sponsored by the Society for Range Management and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

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Chris Freeman, center, points out one of the 50 plants to be studied during the week.
During the week at camp, the campers learned to identify 50 plants, dig a soil pit, and identify soil sample profiles. They also learned how to investigate the plant communities that make up Nevada’s basins and mountain ranges. Part of one day was spent doing a stream investigation where a study was done on the numbers of Caddisflies, Mayflies, and Stonesflies present. They learned that stream health can be determined by water temperature, and the amount of oxygen and macro-invertebrates present.

Other activities during the week included a night compass course, a visit to the Silver Creek Ranch, and a day hike to a SNOTEL site (snow survey location).

Participating in this year’s camp were Dr. Sherman, Academic Director; Cooks Debbie Benson and her parents John and Cheryl Adams; Camp Director Sandy Higa; Counselors Chris Freeman, Linda Peri, Bill Wolfe, and Bob Stager.

Sponsors are what makes the camp happen!  If it were not for the Nevada Wildlife Federation contribution of $500.00 to assist in keeping the camper fees low along with Nevada Conservation Districts and others who also contribute to the event by paying the campers’ fees, Range Camp would not be possible.

The 2005 Range Camp will be held from June 19 through June 26 at Big Creek, Nevada. County Extension Service offices and Conservation Districts throughout Nevada should have applications for camp by March 2005.