The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation this week will begin accepting applications for their 2012 summer camps.
Those include two camps in the Adirondacks — Camp Colby in Saranac Lake and Pack Forest in Warrensburg — as well as two other camps (Rushford and DeBruce) in southern and western New York.
Depending on the location, summer camps are open to youths between ages 11 and 17. There are seven weeklong sessions that begin July 1. The cost is $350 a week for each child.
There is an endless amount of learning and social activities that take place at these camps. Not only do they participate in outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, camping, swimming and canoeing, they also have the opportunity to learn about the environment and can even take their hunter education training.
"Kids don't play outside a lot anymore; we have our kids outside every single day," said Danielle Perry, a teacher from Cortland who served as manager of Pack Forest last summer and who also attended DEC summer camps as a youth.
"Camp is different than school," she continued. "At camp I shot my first bow and arrow, I went on a canoe trip for the first time. Kids act differently at camp. Nobody's different here. It's a judge-free zone. You don't get bullied here, you don't get picked on here. We're really strict on respect and relationships, communication and building memories."
And the kids like it, too!
"It is adventurous here and it's a lot of fun and we met a lot of new friends," said Cody Gibson, 13, of St. Regis Falls, who, along with his older brother, Alan, spent a week at Pack Forest last summer. The Gibson brothers (no relation to the bluegrass band) attended the camp on a scholarship from the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.
"I enjoy the outside," Alan said. "I really like to hike, I like to swim, I like the kayak, and I like to do a lot of stuff that has to do with the wilderness."
The two brothers enjoyed staying in the cabin with 24 boys their age from all over New York. Along with usual activities they did early morning "polar bear" swims, had an arm-wrestling contest and took their hunter education course.
"These guys have been keeping us really busy," Alan said of the camp counselors.
But as Perry reiterated, camp is about friendships.
"I've made friends with almost the whole cabin," Cody Gibson said. "I really want to come back next year. This camp is a very nice place because you get to meet new people, you get to do new stuff and just have a blast!"
Parents who can't afford to send their kids to a summer camp should keep an eye out for scholarships that are often offered through local sportsman's organizations. In fact, the Lake Champlain Chapter of Trout Unlimited is offering six of them this year. For information on the TU scholarships, send an email to wellman1985@charter.net. For more information on DEC's summer camps, including applications, visit the website at www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html or call 402-8014.
Diseased deer update
There has been much concern over a sick deer found by hunters last month in Warren County. According to Rick Georgeson, a spokesperson for DEC's wildlife disease unit, the deer was an adult doe suffering from a disease called Pasteurella. The deer was observed walking slowly, was stumbling and had a distinctively large head. It was otherwise uninjured but it eventually died.
Pasteurella is present in some deer and can become deadly when animals are stressed. While uncommon in New York, in the past few years instances have been reported in Michigan. Georgeson said this is not an "outbreak" but an isolated case.
Transmission scenarios include a bite from another animal, physical contact or sharing of food and water. Pasteurella is found in dogs, cats, cows and rabbits, without causing any problems for the animals.
Sightings of sick, dying or dead deer should be reported to DEC by calling 623-1200.
Dan Ladd is the author of "Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks," outdoors editor for the Glens Falls Chronicle, columnist for Outdoors Magazine and contributor to New York Outdoor News. Contact him at www.adkhunter.com.
