Two Western Wayne High School students furthered their love for nature this summer, while attending the Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA).
Hosted by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education (PICE) in Bloomburg, Emily Funk of Lake Ariel and Chris Bannon of Waymart were among about 20 students from across the state at the academy, July 7-11, 2009. This year’s topic was white tail deer management.
State biologists from throughout Pennsylvania instructed and inspired the next generation of conservationists at the WLA. A biological field station on the shoreline of Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County served as the host site for the beginning of this program. WLA is unique because the program begins with an intensive, residential field school and continues with students completing service and leadership projects within their communities throughout the rest of the year.
Youth, ages 14-17 years old who must demonstrate leadership prior to WLA, were selected from outstanding teenagers across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Emily, the daughter of Noami Bou and Kevin Funk, is a freshman at Western Wayne. She said, “The school was great. I learned all about deer, photography, tracking animals... we had a great time.” She said she hopes to be either a conservationist or a veterinarian.
She loves animals and the outdoors, and applied to the program in April to learn more. A scholarship from the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society made it possible for her to attend.
Among the things she learned was that you can estimate how many deer are in the woods by examining the browse line, where the deer have eaten the undergrowth. She hopes to apply what she learned to her school work.
Chris is the son of Ken and Joanne Bannon and just began his senior year. He also applied in April, and was sponsored by the Susquehanna County Quality Deer Management Association.
An avid hunter and outdoors-man, Chris went to explore whether he would like to pursue wildlife biology in some way at college. “It made me want to do it,” he stated.
He said he learned about deer habitat and their food, and how to control deer population. “It was a ton of fun,” Chris stated. “It really was.” he said he definitely recommends WCA to other students.
The program involves the study of biology, botany and plant science, conservation and game management, with instruction from authorities in these fields. Each WLA field school focuses on a single wildlife species. The only field school to date, aptly named PA Bucktails, focuses on white-tailed deer, a species of regard in Pennsylvania whether you are a wildlife watcher or hunter. In 2010, WLA will add another field school to the program, PA Drummers, focusing on ruffed grouse.
Michele Kittell, WLA Program Coordinator, points out, “Our field school differs from other week-long programs. When applying for the program the students agree to participate in at least three outreach activities in their home communities. We facilitate these outreach activities, encouraging students to participate in projects beyond his or her required activities. The conservation outreach focuses on environmental education, community service, and/or participation in the arts. The goal of the WLA field schools is to provide the students with the tools and knowledge to become informed leaders for wildlife conservation now and in the future.”
The Wildlife Leadership Academy is a cooperative initiative involving state agencies and conservation organizations and is administered by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education. The WLA program brings the knowledge and expertise of Audubon PA, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State University, Kutztown University, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Quality Deer Management Association, US Army Corps of Engineers and prominent biologists directly to high school students.
Interested students can submit their application by April 1 each year by going to www.PICEweb.org. For more information, contact Michele Kittell at mkittell@piceweb.org or (570)245-8518.
GOOD KID STORIES: If you know of a young person age 18 or younger in the area who is a good role model or in some way has made a good accomplishment, you are invited either to submit a story and photograph or contact Peter Becker to arrange an interview by calling (570)253-3055 or e-mail pbecker@wayneindependent.com.
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Two Western Wayne High School students furthered their love for nature this summer, while attending the Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA).
Hosted by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education (PICE) in Bloomburg, Emily Funk of Lake Ariel and Chris Bannon of Waymart were among about 20 students from across the state at the academy, July 7-11, 2009. This year’s topic was white tail deer management.
State biologists from throughout Pennsylvania instructed and inspired the next generation of conservationists at the WLA. A biological field station on the shoreline of Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County served as the host site for the beginning of this program. WLA is unique because the program begins with an intensive, residential field school and continues with students completing service and leadership projects within their communities throughout the rest of the year.
Youth, ages 14-17 years old who must demonstrate leadership prior to WLA, were selected from outstanding teenagers across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Emily, the daughter of Noami Bou and Kevin Funk, is a freshman at Western Wayne. She said, “The school was great. I learned all about deer, photography, tracking animals... we had a great time.” She said she hopes to be either a conservationist or a veterinarian.
She loves animals and the outdoors, and applied to the program in April to learn more. A scholarship from the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society made it possible for her to attend.
Among the things she learned was that you can estimate how many deer are in the woods by examining the browse line, where the deer have eaten the undergrowth. She hopes to apply what she learned to her school work.
Chris is the son of Ken and Joanne Bannon and just began his senior year. He also applied in April, and was sponsored by the Susquehanna County Quality Deer Management Association.
An avid hunter and outdoors-man, Chris went to explore whether he would like to pursue wildlife biology in some way at college. “It made me want to do it,” he stated.
He said he learned about deer habitat and their food, and how to control deer population. “It was a ton of fun,” Chris stated. “It really was.” he said he definitely recommends WCA to other students.
The program involves the study of biology, botany and plant science, conservation and game management, with instruction from authorities in these fields. Each WLA field school focuses on a single wildlife species. The only field school to date, aptly named PA Bucktails, focuses on white-tailed deer, a species of regard in Pennsylvania whether you are a wildlife watcher or hunter. In 2010, WLA will add another field school to the program, PA Drummers, focusing on ruffed grouse.
Michele Kittell, WLA Program Coordinator, points out, “Our field school differs from other week-long programs. When applying for the program the students agree to participate in at least three outreach activities in their home communities. We facilitate these outreach activities, encouraging students to participate in projects beyond his or her required activities. The conservation outreach focuses on environmental education, community service, and/or participation in the arts. The goal of the WLA field schools is to provide the students with the tools and knowledge to become informed leaders for wildlife conservation now and in the future.”
The Wildlife Leadership Academy is a cooperative initiative involving state agencies and conservation organizations and is administered by the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education. The WLA program brings the knowledge and expertise of Audubon PA, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State University, Kutztown University, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Quality Deer Management Association, US Army Corps of Engineers and prominent biologists directly to high school students.
Interested students can submit their application by April 1 each year by going to www.PICEweb.org. For more information, contact Michele Kittell at mkittell@piceweb.org or (570)245-8518.
GOOD KID STORIES: If you know of a young person age 18 or younger in the area who is a good role model or in some way has made a good accomplishment, you are invited either to submit a story and photograph or contact Peter Becker to arrange an interview by calling (570)253-3055 or e-mail pbecker@wayneindependent.com.
