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 Gale Dupree

The United States Forest Service Campground at Big Creek, south of Austin, Nevada, was home for 36 high school students this June. It was the 49th year for the Nevada High School Youth Range Camp that is sponsored by the Society for Range Management, Nevada Bighorns, Unlimited and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

During the week at camp, the campers learned to identify 75 plants, examine a soil pit. They also learned how to investigate sagebrush and woodland 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 studied by predicting (from the insects) water temperature and dissolved oxygen.

Other activities during the week included a night compass course, a visit to the Smith Creek Ranch, a conservation project revetting headcuts in a meadow, a scavenger hunt to test their powers of observation, a simulation of Coordinate Resource management, and a day hike to a SNOTEL site (snow survey location).

The top student receiving the Trail Boss Award was Alex Werbeckes from Reno.  He will travel to the High School Youth Forum at the International Society for Range Management Meetings next February in Denver.  He will present a talk there about a rangeland management issue and attend various tours, talks with professionals, and fun activities with students from across the West.

Participating in this year’s camp were Dr. Sherman, Academic Director (UNR, Natural Resources and Environmental Science Department and Cooperative Extension State Range Specialist); cooks Gary McCuin (UNCE), Richard and Maggie Orr.  Counselors included Heather Mobley and Ingrid Drieling (USFS); Cheryl Post, Scott Stanfill, and Amy Ruhs (BLM); Katie Sloan (UNR-volunteer); Brad Schultz, Steven Foster, and Kent McAdoo (Cooperative Extension); Denise Adkins and John Fisher (NRCS); Kelly McGowan (Nevada Division of Conservation Districts); and Ryan Shane (Nevada Division of Forestry).

Sponsors are what makes the camp happen!  If it were not for the Nevada Wildlife Federation contribution of $1,000 and agencies contributing staff 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 2010 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 2010. Check Nevada Youth Range Camp on the Web for an application.