Winner Seeks Applicants For Week-long Stay At State Environmental Education Camp

Elmira, N.Y.-- State Senator George H. Winner, Jr. (R-C, Elmira)is seeking to sponsor one economically disadvantaged boy or girl from within his legislative district to spend one week, free of charge, at a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) education camp this July or August.

The DEC Camp Program has been operating for over 50 years.

"These camps provide unique opportunities for young people interested in environmental science, wildlife and resource conservation issues to spend an enjoyable and educational week at a DEC camp," said Winner. "I’m glad to have this opportunity to sponsor a young person from my district and send him or her, free of charge, to one of the camps."

Winner represents Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates counties, and a part of Tompkins County (the city and town of Ithaca, and the towns of Enfield, Newfield and Ulysses).

The DEC education camps are Camp Colby in the Adirondacks, Camp DeBruce in the Catskills, Camp Rushford in southwestern New York, and the department’s Pack Forest facility in Warrensberg.

Winner said that the following two programs are being offered:

> For 12 to 14 years old, there is the Environmental Education Camp Program. During the week campers participate in organized activities under well-qualified instructors. Activities stress the importance of air and water quality, wise land use and wildlife management. They include exploring field, stream and forest communities; sampling streams for aquatic life; and ecology and freshwater biology. Fishing, hiking, canoeing and various other forms of outdoor recreation round out the program; and

> For 15 to 17 year olds, the Teenage Ecology Workshop (TEW) consists of a variety of workshops and activities conducted within the framework of an outdoor experience designed to help the participants become more aware of the environmental around them. The program seeks to stimulate a camper’s interest in participating in the sound management of our natural resources and/or pursue further studies in related fields. The activities and workshops are conducted outdoors as part of a week-long experience that will include out-of-camp canoeing and backpacking.

Winner is seeking an applicant who has a genuine interest in attending a camp. Applicants must be economically disadvantaged and unable to afford the regular $250 camp fee to spend a week at one of the camps. Potential applicants should contact Winner’s district office in Elmira by visiting 228 Lake Street; by writing to P.O. Box 588, Elmira, New York 14902; or by calling 607-732-2765.

Winner stressed that he will consider applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click onDEC’s Summer Environmental Education Campsfor more information.