Summer Environment Camp for Teens

Get packed for a memorable week! (credit: NYS DEC)

Is your child or student an outdoors type, a lover of nature, and inquisitive about their role in protecting the environment? Here is a wonderful way to give them a rewarding and life-affirming experience this summer… Read on!

The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, as part of our commitment to environmental education, is sponsoring three students aged 14-17 to attend a week-long away camp run by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

We are giving you the opportunity for parents to sign up their child to attend one of these camps, which will run weekly in July and August at various sites in the Catskills and further north. There is no participation cost to the family or school. The Protectors will provide the scholarship. Transportation to and from camp, and personal incidentals, are not provided.

Our sponsorship is competitive, and requires your child or student to write a brief explanation of their interest in nature and conservation, and why they want to go to an environment camp. This must be emailed by a parent or teacher to mpaladino@siprotectors.org Deadline: March 13. Registration must be made the following week, and preferred spots fill quickly. You will be notified directly if your child or student is selected. For more information, please contact Madeline Paladino at the above email address.

Memories from a DEC Camper

My favorite memory from the camp is a night that we went out on an Owl Prowl.  In fact, some of my best experiences were at night.  The walks were exciting, but we also played games like Manhunt, watched a movie or sat around the campfire singing.  We also had the option to go camping in tents overnight.

We learned so much about environmental issues.  I remember that they had stations set up so you could always be moving on to a new topic.  The best thing was to experience nature firsthand.  I loved swimming in the lake and going fishing, since I hadn’t really had the chance to do that much as a kid growing up in New York City.

I have to say the food was good and the cabin was comfortable.  I also completed safety certification for Bowhunting, which impressed (and frightened) my parents a little.  Overall it was a fantastic experience. 

Jamilla P.