COLUMBUS – There is still time for high school students to register for Camp Canopy, which is held June 9-14, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.
“Camp Canopy is a great opportunity for any high school student interested in the outdoors,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “Students spend the week outside learning about Ohio’s forests, wildlife and conservation with some of the state’s top foresters and wildlife biologists.”
Topics for Camp Canopy this year include Forest Invasives (complete with a demonstration on how to manage invasive plants), Waterfowl ID (learn how to identify more than mallards and Canada geese), Wild Edibles in the Woods (learn what treats are safe to eat in the great outdoors) and Forestry Forensics (get your investigative skills ready!). Other fun classes include tree identification, forest ecology and silviculture, which is the art and science of growing trees. Camp Canopy also has the traditional summer camp activity options, such as archery, rifle range, swimming, fishing woodland hikes and a fun paddling excursion.
Camp Canopy is open to incoming high school freshmen through graduating seniors. Previously known as the Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp, Camp Canopy will be held at FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake in Carroll County. There are many sponsorships available to help pay for students to attend camp, and more than $7,000 in college scholarships are given out to campers at the end of the week.
For more information about Camp Canopy, visit their website at campcanopy.com. Camp costs $375 per student, and some scholarship funding is available.
This year, Camp Canopy was awarded a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) State Implementation Committee (SIC) Grant. This grant will go toward class supplies, an updated study manual and field tours for our veteran campers. The Ohio SIC is made of SFI Participants in Ohio like Pixelle and the Division of Forestry, as well as supporting organizations that include: the Ohio Forestry Association, Ohio Logging Standards Council, National Wild Turkey Federation, Project Learning Tree and Ohio State University Extension. These businesses and organizations have been big supporters of Camp Canopy for many years, supplying materials, instructors and camper sponsorships.
The Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Instagram at @odnrforestry (instagram.com/odnrforestry).
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
