Have you experienced a clear night sky full of stars or the wind rustling through the pine trees? Western history books describe wide-open prairies and big skies of Montana that in years past invited pioneers and conservationists out West. The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch is such a place where in the summer youth come to experience a safe getaway full of outdoor adventure and new challenges along the scenic and beautiful Rocky Mountain Front.
Three camps offer adventures, challenges, and experiences to last a lifetime. Outdoor opportunities including hiking, fishing, creating fishing flies and lures, and orienteering designed to encourage enduring life skills. Backcountry hikes include observing signs of wildlife, plant life, migratory birds, and expansive wild lands.
Club staffers and others involve youth in the care of the land with the message of conservation and what that means to be individuals living in harmony within diverse landscapes. The beauty of the places and experiences are captured with digital cameras, photography skills and computer techniques to share and enjoy the results with friends and family. Time is devoted to developing other traditional outdoor skills such as archery, rifle, and shotgun target shooting.
The scenic world provides a fabulous learning environment to grow to understand the balance of life and to enjoy it. Here's a breakdown of what campers will experience at the camps:
Little Critters Day Camp
Have you ever wondered where your favorite animals live? Or what they eat? Do you wish you could spend some time fishing and studying what lives around the edge of a pond? Day activities include short hikes, fishing, exploring the plants and animals found in the area, wildlife tracking and discovering ways to enjoy the out-of-doors.
Shuttle service is available for an additional $10.00. Pick-up leaves Choteau and Conrad at 8:00 a.m. and returns by 4:30 p.m. Please call for more information. Parent or guardian may accompany their children. For an additional fee adult camp lunches are available.
- When: July 13, 14, 15, 2009
- Who: Youth ages 5 - 8 (or entering grades K - 3)
- Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Cost: $25/day/camper (Can register for one, two or three days)
- All camp equipment, snacks and meals are covered in the registration fee.
- Registration Deadline: June 15, 2009
Outdoor Adventure Camp - Intermediate Outdoor Skills and Wildlife Conservation
Do you have an interest in the outdoors, conservation and advanced outdoor skills? Join us for four days of wildlife related hands-on activities and engaging presentations by wildlife and natural resource professionals. Topics include conservation ethics, species diversity, habitat management, population ecology, predator-prey interactions, capture and census techniques, animal and plant identification, hunting as a management tool, hunter safety, shooting and fishing skills.
The camp goals are:
1) To encourage youth to be conservation-wise citizens and;
2) To develop an avenue for youth interested in natural resource related-careers - fish, wildlife, ecology, water, etc. - to have an opportunity to interact with professionals.
- When: August 2nd - 5th, 2009
- Who: Youth ages 15 -17 (or entering grades 9th -12th); Limited to 20 campers
- Cost: $300/camper; Scholarships are available.
- Registration Deadline: June 30, 2009
Outdoor Adventure Camp - Outdoor Skills
Do you want to learn basic outdoor skills, such as knot tying, fly tying, shooting sports, campfire building, journaling and tracking skills? Campers will use digital cameras, GPS units, maps and compass to gather and analyze their experiences on the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch and adjacent public lands.
Primary goals of this camp are:
1) To develop an understanding, awareness and appreciation for the great outdoors of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front and the importance of conservation and natural resources and;
2) To provide an opportunity for youth to gain a variety of outdoors skills on private and public lands.
- When: August 9th - 12th, 2009
- Who: Youth ages 10 -15 (or entering grades 5th - 9th); Limited to 20 campers
- Cost: $300/camper; Scholarships are available.
- Registration Deadline: June 30, 2009
For more information and registration call 406-472-3311