By Chris Erwin

For the second consecutive year, the Kentucky Outdoor Press Association has given scholarships to under-privileged kids to attend one of three conservation camps in Kentucky.

On Friday, April 24 officers of KOPA met at Maynard’s Grocery in Greenup, Ky. to present Jessie Spears-Nelson education officer for the DFWL a check to provide funding to send two children to Conservation Camp.

They are three such camps in Kentucky. Camp John Currie is located on Kentucky Lake outside of Benton. Kentucky opened it in 1949. Camp Earl Wallace, located on Lake Cumberland outside of Monticello opened in 1951. Camp Robert C. Webb, located on Grayson Lake outside of Grayson, opened in 1969. An average of 4,500 Kentucky students attends the three camps each year.

These students will arrive at camp on a Monday morning and return home on Friday afternoon. Scheduled activities include: Nature, Archery, Boating, Outdoor Survival, Firearm Safety, Fishing/Casting and Swimming.

successful completion of a camp activity entitles each camper to an achievement patch, certificate or award. Additionally, campers may earn a Kentucky’s Hunter Education Certificate. This “orange card” is honored in all states that require a hunter education card.Each evening, campers will also have time to enjoy their favorite playground activities such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping-pong, etc.

If you have a child who wants to attend summer camp, go to this website and sign-up you can find all the information along with application forms http://fw.ky.gov/Education/Pages/Summer-Camps.aspx .

Jessie Nelson education officer for the DFWL told me that each year they try to send some children to camp that otherwise would never get to go. They have set up a fund each year and take donations to send as many kids as the fund can pay for.

If you want to keep the outdoors alive, we need to teach our youth how to enjoy nature. By pointing a child toward a high better than drugs, more thrilling than video games, you can help us. Pick up your pen and write a check for whatever you can afford and send it to: Jessie Spears-Nelson, 330 Hall Road South Shore, KY 41175. Make checks payable to “KY Fish & Wildlife.”