Students Study Soils at Wildlife Conservation Camp

The Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society’s Wildlife Conservation Camp was held at The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve in Jeff Davis County the week of June 16.

Each summer the camp hosts up to 25 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from around the state. This year, 17 students attended the camp to learn about wildlife biology, ecology, management, and conservation. The Wildlife Conservation Camp is designed to introduce young people to wildlife conservation and management by providing students with hands-on activities interspersed with learning sessions.

Natural resource professionals from organizations such as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Texas Wildlife Services, as well as Sul Ross, Texas State, Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin and Tarlton State universities and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute provided hands-on training. “Such first-hand learning experiences by students from wildlife professionals representing a diverse array of backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge is a real asset to the student campers,” said Misty Sumner, camp director.

Field activities included a lesson on the importance of geology and soils by NRCS soil scientist Dr. Lynn Loomis. Other sessions included plant collecting, deer, small mammal and reptile census techniques, bird and mammal identification, wetland ecology, archery and sporting clays. Lectures included such topics as hunter safety, turkey management, tracking, trapping and tagging animals, radio telemetry, GPS, deer survey techniques, digital photography, use of fire and cattle to manage wildlife and soil and wildlife identification.

Although many students will go on and enter other career fields, some individuals pursue wildlife-related careers based, in part, on experiences at the camp. Whichever career direction student campers may take, they are able to make informed decisions about wildlife and conservation issues and have a better appreciation of the natural resources found in Texas after attending the camp.

Dr. Lynn Loomis demonstrates soil characteristics to conservation campers Trevor Dragon and Jesi Hessong, while camp counselors Abel Guevara and Chad Stasey look on.	Conservation campers Trevor Dragon and Jesi Hessong use a Munsell Soil Color Chart to compare soil colors while camp counselor Abel Guevara looks on.
Photo credits: Chuck Kowaleski

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