Since its founding in 2002, the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education, a non-profit educational organization for advancing awareness, knowledge and skills in natural history and conservation of natural resources by building an ecologically literate and engaged public through youth education, has operated its annual Pennsylvania-based Wildlife Leadership Academy.
WLA is a cooperative initiative and brings the experts to the students, who are taught by and interact with conservation professionals daily. These professionals represent agencies, conservation organizations and universities from throughout Pennsylvania.
Over its first 14 years, the WLA has enriched the lives of thousands at field schools such as Pennsylvania Bucktails, which focuses on whitetail deer; Pennsylvania Brookies, which focuses on brook trout and coldwater conservation; and Pennsylvania Drummer, which focuses on ruffed grouse. Now, new for 2015, is the Pennsylvania Ursids field school, which will focus on black bear.
WLA is accepting applications for its 2015 summer field schools from youth ages 14-17 and adult mentors who participate alongside the students. Institute director Michele Kittell said all adults are welcome as mentors, but school teachers are especially encouraged to apply as mentors.
“We are excited to offer for the first time a field school dealing with black bear,” Kittell said. “We’re equally excited to have wildlife biologist Gary Alt, who coordinated the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s black bear research and management program for more than 25 years, leading the instruction and development of the bear-focused field school.
“Gary has been involved with the Wildlife Leadership Academy summer program since its start in 2007. He often notes his respect for the Wildlife Leadership Academy program and the importance of teaching the next generation of conservation leaders.”
In 2014 students attended WLA field schools from Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Erie, Indiana, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lehigh, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northumberland, Perry, Washington and York counties. Their training allowed them to return to their communities and pass on what they learned to their peers.
“Institute programs involve partnering with an array of leading conservation professionals, field naturalists, ecologists, biologists, authors and educators,” Kittell said. “Institute classes can cover topics ranging from ecology, geology and botany to nature writing and sketching to honing outdoors skills.
“Program locations and accommodations vary from nature centers, public and private parks and forestlands as well as camps, lodges, private resorts and inns — encouraging hands-on discovery of ecosystems and watersheds of Pennsylvania while instilling stewardship of the state’s natural resources. Its guiding philosophy is that experience teaches best by taking an interdisciplinary and innovative approach.
“Programs are designed to teach at the convergence of natural and cultural history, science, literature and the arts and affirm human history as integral to the history of landscapes. They encourage exploration, reflection and stewardship through immersion in the outdoors by promoting connectivity and respect of people and the broader community of life.”
From its Lewisburg headquarters, WLA is a year-round program that focuses on wildlife and fisheries conservation and leadership development. Its mission from the outset is to empower youth to become ambassadors for wildlife conservation to ensure a sustained wildlife legacy for future generations.
In addition to the five-day residential field school experience that focuses on a fish or wildlife species as a springboard for exploring biology, habitat and conservation issues, youth also develop leadership skills engaging in team-building activities, educational presentations and mock “town hall” meetings on current topics. These activities help students develop leadership skills and considerable knowledge about conservation issues specific to the theme of the WLA program they attended.
If you go
Applications for the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education 2015 Wildlife Leadership Academy field schools for students ages 14-17 and adult mentors can be downloaded at www.PICEweb.org and must be received by Wednesday, April 1.
Pennsylvania Bucktails field school is Tuesday-Saturday, June 16-20, at Stone Valley Recreation Area in Huntingdon County; Pennsylvania Brookies field school is Tuesday-Saturday, July 7-11, at Sieg Conference Center in Clinton County; Pennsylvania Drummers field school is Tuesday-Saturday, June 21-25, at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Westmoreland County; and Pennsylvania Ursis field school is Tuesday-Saturday, Aug. 2-6, at Stone Valley Recreation Area in Huntingdon County.
For more information, contact PICE director Michele Kittell at
mkittell@piceweb.org or (570) 245-8518, WLA program coordinator Katie Cassidy at kcassidy@piceweb.org or (570) 939-5109 or connect on Facebook at facebook.com/wildlifeleadershipacademy.