 ABOUT CAMP
Learning Outside the Classroom at New Mexico Forestry Camp
 Where can a student spend all day with teachers, but have much more fun than in school? At New Mexico Forestry Camp! This 6-day, residential, outdoor workshop for 13- to 17-year-olds is a great way for youth to learn about how New Mexicans use, care for, and appreciate the natural and cultural resources on their public lands.
History
Forestry Camp is the brainchild of Betty-Jane Curry and Peggy Ohler,
who are members of the Cuba Soil and Water Conservation District.
Both women had observed that young people tended to come to emotional
conclusions about such topics as range management and stream health,
rather than basing their determinations on scientific facts. Betty-Jane
and Peggy decided that some type of resource camp — where students
could gain firsthand knowledge about appropriate resource decisions
from the public land managers and community agencies entrusted
with such decisions — would
help students’ understanding immensely. Betty-Jane and Peggy
contacted friends within the various natural resource agencies
in New Mexico to develop a program around understanding the “how
and why” of
resource management decisions. The first camp, held in 1990, was
a huge success, and there has been a Forestry Camp almost every
year since. Camp did not occur in 1996 and 2000 because of the
extreme fire danger in the Jemez Mountains during the first week
in June.
An In-depth Look at Camp Life
 Campers
arrive at Forestry Camp on Sunday afternoon between 2 p.m. and
5 p.m. For some, this is their first experience away from home,
family, and friends. For others, it is their first experience sleeping
in a platform-tent shared by other campers. Campers spend Sunday
orienting to camp life. They meet new friends, counselors, and
staff. Many of the counselors are teachers who help campers gain
the most from their time at the camp; however, many of these teachers
learn as much as, if not more than, the campers themselves.
 Counselors arrive on Saturday before camp for orientation, to review the program, and to develop first evening’s campfire. The campfire usually involves a skit about rules, responsibilities, and what is expected of campers while at camp.
Each morning campers are responsible for chores. When chores are completed,
a hearty breakfast is served. It is amazing to see the amounts of food
these young people can eat!
Campers quickly discover that evenings in the mountains are cold. That chilly lesson stays with them for the rest of the week. 
On Monday morning, the counselors take the campers on a 4-mile
hike. Monday afternoon campers campers rotate between sessions like
map and compass; fire; ecology; and forestry tools.
 On
Tuesday, campers spend most of the day with resource professionals,
who provide hands-on activities and facilitate learning experiences
on topics such as watersheds, soils, bugs, fire ecology and wildlife.
On Tuesday campers also start to practice for the “conclave competition,” a
series of activities related to old logging competitions. Forestry
Camp conclave events can include an identification table, cross-cut
saw competition, compass skills course, squirrel run,
and a hatchet throw. The finals for these competitions take place
on Thursday.
Wednesday is the off-site field trip, designed to allow campers to experience
other environments. Past field trips have been to the fish
hatchery, pumice mine, San Gregorio Lake and Jemez Falls Picnic Area.
 On
Thursday, campers spend the day with a resource professional of their choice,
to get an in-depth view of a natural or cultural resource career. These
professionals discuss career choices, education, and experience when making
resource management decisions.
On Thursday evening there is the conclave competition, a bar-b-que and
campfire songs. The meat for this feast is slow-roasted on-site from
Wednesday afternoon to Thursday evening, driving everyone crazy with
its wonderful smells.
 Other
evenings during the week are spent processing the events of the day
or taking part in evening programs, such as skits, singing, s'more
making, and campfire safety talks.
On Friday morning, campers participate in Forestry Squares.” Designed
much like the game show “Hollywood Squares,” this quiz-style
competition provides an excellent review and evaluation of what they
learned at camp. Questions come from presenters who have worked with
the campers during the week. Campers really seem to enjoy this part
of Forestry Camp. Parents who
come early to pick up the campers enjoy watching the game.
Sponsors
 The
Cuba Soil and Water Conservation District is the main sponsor for
New Mexico Forestry Camp. Additional sponsors are: the Girl Scouts
of New Mexico Trails, New Mexico State Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, City
of Farmington Museums, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, New Mexico
Cooperative Extension Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Natural
Resource Conservation Service, Society of American Foresters, New Mexico
Forest and Water Restoration Institue, New Mexico Tree Farm Committee,
and New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
Contact Information
Jean Szymanski, jszymanski@fs.fed.us, (505) 842-3325
Marsha Hagerdon, mhagerdon@fs.fed.us, (505) 287-8833
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