Reflections On The
2004 Youth Camp
By SGW Jay Harvey

What do you get when you combine 41 teenagers, 11 ODWC employee counselors, more than a dozen experts in wildlife, fisheries, archery, self-defense, firearms, deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, turkey trapping, boating, quail hunting, a scenic camp overlooking a beautiful lake, a week of good food, great fun, and the chance to find out what being a wildlife professional is all about? The correct answer is the 6th annual ODWC Youth Camp held at Camp Redlands on Lake Carl Blackwell. Wide-eyed 14-16 year Ads from all over Oklahoma came together to enjoy a week of learning all about wildlife careers, hands-on experiences with all types of outdoor gear including a ropes course, bows, rifles, shotguns, seines, handcuffs, boats, and many other aspects of hunting and fishing. Throw in 3 excellent meals a day, lots of free time to fish, swim, play volleyball, a nd even time to plot ways to torment the counselors, and you have a summer camp that not only is more fun than anything you've ever done, but also is a learning experience of a lifetime.

The week long camp is designed to let the campers have as much fun as possible, but also to introduce them to the career possibilities in the fields that pertain to wildlife. A career as a Game Warden, Fishery or Wildlife Biologist, Information- Education Specialist or other jobs available within the ODWC are emphasized during the camp. Other guest speakers throughout the week also let the kids see every view that wildlife careers have to offer.

After orientation and introducing the counselors,campers, cooks, and guest speakers, the week's schedule was gone over to let the kids know what to look forward to during the camp. The week's events were something like this:

Sunday Eve.: Oklahoma Wildlife Facts and Myths with Steve Burge
Monday: ROPES Course- OSU Staff
Mon. Eve.: Quail Hunting, Mgmt., and Enforcement
Tuesday: ODWC Career Panel-Career Opportunities-ODWC Personnel; Firearms Intro & Self-defense; Archery
Tues. Eve.: Turkey Hunting, Mgmt., and Enforcement
Wednesday: Shotgun & Rifle (.22s and .308 M-14s) shooting
Wed. Eve.: Fish Fry & Wild Game Cookout and Muzzleloading Demo "
Thursday: Waterfowl and Deer Hunting, Mgmt., and Enforcement; Fisheries Mgmt., and Fishing Enforcement
Thurs. Eve.: Law Enforcement and Night Hunting Scenarios

Friday: Cleanup (yuk!!)
Awards Presentation:
Best Camper,
Best Attitude,
Top Gun-Archery,
Top Gun-Shotgun,
Top Gun-Rifle

As you can see, the camp was filled to the brim with activities that any young person interested in the outdoors would enjoy. Even the adults at the camp have a good time participating! We've never had too many problems getting help at the camp, either finding counselors to stay all week, or with experts to come and teach one of the programs. ( One great thing about the ODWC: it's full of experts willing to share their knowledge with young people)

The camp would not have been possible without help from many sources, including the ODWC, Quail Unlimited, the NRA, the National Wild Turkey Federation, private contributors, and many other behind the scene benefactors. Also, the many Department employees who volunteered their time cannot be thanked enough for their invaluable contributions that made this year's camp such a success. Each year our numerous volunteers outdo themselves with their efforts to make their presentations fun, educational, and memorable. Some of the experiences mentioned by the campers included shooting the Warden's M-14s, seining along the lake shore, watching the cannon net go off, electro-fishing a 30 pound flathead, riding in the boats, dangling high above the ground on the Ropes course, and the water balloon fight on Thursday night (who started that?). All in all, the camp was a rousing success thanks to all who pitched in to help.

Campers gear up for a day on the ropes course.

2004 Youth Campers pose for  group photo.

The camp would not have been possible without the six young ladies and thirty five young men selected as campers this year. From Canton to Vici to Apache to Webbers Falls to Pryor-to Boswell to Muse, every part of Oklahoma was represented in this year's camp, and the diversity of the young people contributed to the camp's unique atmosphere. Throw in counselors from Woodward, Cherokee, Carter, McCurtain, Caddo, Woods, Marshall, Washington, Alfalfa, Payne, and Bryan Counties and you have people from every corner of our state put together for a week to mix, share ideas and stories, and make new friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

To apply for next year's camp, look for brochures in local stores, schools, and your local newspaper for details around March of 2005. You can also check for details by looking on the ODWC's website at wildlifedepartment.com, or by calling your local Game Warden. To apply, each young person must be at least 14 years old and not older than 16 on the first day of the 2005 Camp. Each applicant must fill out an application, write a 75 word essay on why they want to come to the camp, and provide a letter of recommendation from someone other than a family member such as a teacher, pastor, guidance counselor, coach, or club leader. Deadline for applications will be April 15, 2005, so don't delay.

More gearing up for the ropes course.

SGW B. May teaches the campers about ODWC Departments and Programs.

As a counselor at the ODWC Youth Camp each year of its existence, I am already looking forward to our seventh camp, and I feel confident that the other counselors are too.

We hope that the next bunch of campers are as fun as this year's, and that the 7th annual Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Youth Camp will be more fun, exciting, educational, and memorable than any other camp in recent history.