High water comes just before summer here in the Bitterroot. And just before high water comes the Youth Conservation & Education Expo. It’s an event sponsored by over 45 conservation organizations and state and federal agencies working together to develop and fund opportunities which will engage local youth in the great outdoors and all it has to offer. It takes place each year at the Red Slack Barn on the Teller Wildlife Refuge north of Corvallis.
The event is designed to introduce the youth to a variety of outdoor experiences and takes place rain or shine. It is also aligned with a much bigger system of summer camps designed to extend and amplify those experiences and opportunities for learning. Every young person who attends the May 12 event at Teller Refuge could earn a chance to go to one of several summer camps that are scheduled later in the year, simply by visiting a certain number of educational stations at the event. It is hoped that the things learned at this event and later at the summer camps will help the young people understand land ethics, sportsmanship, proper hunting ethics, and ultimately become responsible land stewards, hunters and fishers in their respective communities.
At the Teller, each youth participant is given a report card to document interaction with the various work stations. The report card is required to be completed for drawings held at the end of the day to select youths who will receive scholarships to attend outdoor summer camps throughout Montana.
The kids get a chance to scale a climbing wall, shoot BB and pellet guns, and shoot with bow and arrows. They could get an introduction to fly casting and fly tying, duck, goose and turkey calling. They could win gobs of prizes donated by participating organizations, including elk, deer, goose and turkey hunts. They could win one of 100 slots to an outdoor summer camp.
The expenses associated with the event and the tuition for the summer camps are funded by the participating partners and financial sponsors. A local camp that was recently added is the McGruder Ranger Station Camp where kids learn about the Wilderness Act from local journalist and publisher Dale Burk and wilderness ethics like “leave no trace” from renowned packer Smoke Elser. A one-night pack trip is provided by the Back Country Horsemen. Some shooting is done with shotguns provided by Montana FWP and ammo provided by Darren Newsom, owner of Ammo and More. There is also some great fishing.
Another new camp is being added this year up the West Fork of the Bitterroot on property owned by Charles Scripps. Other camps included in the program include the Glacier Institute, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch Camp, Full Draw Camp, Jack Creek Camp, Montana Natural Resources Camp at Lubrecht Forest, Bear Camp, the MPG Ranch Camp and the Two Feathers Ranch Camp.
Last year 80 kids put in on a chance for 20 slots to attend shooting practice at Whittecar Shooting Range in Hamilton. This year they are able to provide 36 slots. The best pistol shooter and the best rifle shooter of the day win a rifle.
Volunteer organizer Tom Powers said that this six-year-old organization is growing rapidly.
“Our first year we had scholarships for 20 kids to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch Camp. Last year we paid for 120 kids to go to camps all over the state,” said Powers.
Powers said that the success of the program was due to the support of the partners and sponsors.
The Expo begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 at the Red Slack Barn on the Teller Wildlife Refuge at 1180 Chaffin Lane, Corvallis. Attendance is free. The event will take place rain or shine! Food is available for purchase. For more information call Tom Powers at (406) 531-4224.