Potter Valley, CA—Kids Outdoor Sports Camp (KOSC) has launched the Outdoor Conservation Explorers program for youth interested in angling, shooting firearms and bows, hunting, and conservation projects. The newly created program, the first of its kind, offers kids the opportunity to participate in six camps over several years to achieve the Outdoor Conservation Explorers Award.
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“After surveying campers who have attended camps over the past 25 years, we identified three major barriers preventing them from staying engaged in the shooting, hunting, and angling world. These barriers included not enough experience, lack of peers to participate with, and cost of equipment and licenses,” said Danielle Randall, Executive Director of Kids Outdoor Sports Camp. “With hearing these issues over and over, the KOSC staff worked diligently to put together a program we feel will greatly improve the ability of campers to overcome these barriers,” she added. “We are very excited to announce the Outdoor Conservation Explorers program and we believe it will keep kids in the outdoors and give them the ability to continue their passions.”
Campers will attend camps and work at home on a curriculum that teaches them the skills necessary to build a foundation they can use as they become more knowledgeable and skilled conservationists. Campers begin the program with Beginner Camp and go on to Advanced Camp I & II, Elite Camp I & II before completing a trip to test the skills they have learned. Upon completion of all camps and the final trip, campers will be awarded their Outdoor Conservation Explorer Award and receive a lifetime hunting or fishing license and gear they need to continue their passion of choice.
“At the end of Advanced Camp II, campers will choose a “tract” that most interests them as they move into Elite Camp I. Tracts range from learning to hunt with archery equipment to angling, big game, and waterfowl and upland game hunting. We focus on educating the youth in the areas that most interest them. All campers in the program will use the “Conservation Science” curriculum created by Sportsmen’s Alliance which is taught in over 72 schools nationwide and is growing yearly. “This is one of the most comprehensive conservation curriculums I’ve read, said Paul Bonderson, former President of Ducks Unlimited, and owner of Bird Haven Ranch, which partners with KOSC and will host the first Advanced Camp II this summer.
All 2022 camps are five-night, six-day camps scheduled throughout June, July, and August and offer kids the opportunity to attend three different levels of camps. At Beginning Camp they can earn their hunter education certification, and learn about fishing, hunting, conservation, and archery skills all under the watchful eye of certified instructors and counselors. At Advanced Camp, campers will continue to learn and grow with more in-depth shooting, fishing, and archery skills. In Advanced Camp II, campers will learn wilderness camping skills, how to put up a tree stand, build a hunting blind, use a 3D archery range and so much more! All camps allow kids the opportunity to swim, kayak, fish, and explore.
For 25 summers, KOSC has trained thousands of kids in California and has plans to expand throughout the State. “Our goal is to provide all interested kids the opportunity to learn about the great outdoors and all it has to offer,” said Steve Rudolph, Chairman of the Board for KOSC. “Through generous donations and partnerships, like our friends at Mzuri Wildlife Foundation, we are offering scholarships to ensure ALL kids have the opportunity to participate this summer.”
KOSC counselors are certified NRA instructors in shotgun and rifle and USA Archery level one instructors as well as First Aid and CPR certified.
To learn more and register please visit www.kidsoutdoorsportscamp.org Kids Outdoor Sports Camp is a registered 501(C)3 organization. KOSC is dedicated to building the next generation of outdoor and conservation leaders to ensure a bright future for California hunting, angling, and shooting sports. Please support our organization by logging on to our website and clicking on the donate now button.
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