Empire Ranch Foundation
Wild About the Grasslands! (WATG!)
2010 Summer Camps 

What is Wild About the Grasslands! all about?

Wild about the Grasslands!  is the Empire Ranch Foundation’s highly successful ecology and ranching heritage youth outdoor education program. The Empire Ranch Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management – Tucson Field Office, provides three summer adventure camp sessions  at the historic Empire Ranch in the heart of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. This unique program aims to educate youth so that as citizens they understand the value of their natural and cultural resources and have the desire and means to practice sustainable stewardship. The goals of the program are to:

1.      Nurture an appreciation of the ecological importance of the Las Cienegas NCA and cultural heritage of Empire Ranch;

2.      Discover and stimulate personal meaning and connection to the outdoor environment through nature-inspired art and outdoor recreation activities;

3.      Promote an understanding of environmental sustainability and stewardship; and

4.      Develop 21^st Century skills in creative and critical thinking, use of technology tools, collaboration, and communication by working with master teachers, field scientists, land managers, and local experts. 

The specifics and costs for each camp session are provided below.  Register by May 10 to receive a 20% discount.  There is an additional 10% discount for families registering more than one child.   Click here for Registration Form. 

3-day Summer Day Camp I: (Ages 9-11)
June 2 – June 4, 2010
 9:00am – 3:00pm

Through guided hikes and hands-on explorations these youngsters will discover the importance of the Cienega Creek as a precious resource to the Las Cienegas NCA and Tucson area. They will learn about the importance of this precious water source to support a diversity of plants, wildlife, and its significance to the people who depend on it. These young “grasslanders” will engage in hands-on, minds-on activities such as macro invertebrate study, observing wildlife, nature journaling, and participate in ranching traditions. 

Cost: $135 (includes campers t-shirt, embroidered cap, and journal). Bring sack lunch.

5-day Summer Day Camp II: (Ages 12-15)
June 7 – June 11, 
2010, 9:00am – 4:00pm

This week-long, fun-filled summer camp experience is for young teens who want to make new friends and be inspired to be stewards of our public lands. Through guided hikes and field study experiences campers discover the forces that shape the semi-desert landscape, develop observation skills, explore the habitats of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, learn about the story of ranch life in southeastern Arizona, and use Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for science and recreation. Campers will engage in hands-on, minds-on activities such as wildlife-tracking, adobe brick-making, birding, geocaching, nature journaling, and creating nature inspired art. 

Cost: $195 (includes campers t-shirt, embroidered cap, and journal). Bring sack lunch.

  Overnight Camp: (Ages 14–17)
June 11, 4:30pm through  June 12, 1:00pm

Designed for teens who want to experience first-hand, camping at the historic Empire Ranch Headquarters. They will enjoy an evening of activities focused on Dutch oven cooking, wildlife spotting, cowboy music, and observing the night sky. The next day they will have fun exploring the desert grasslands through geocaching and letterboxing, or the use of maps, GPS, and compass to find hidden treasures. Students will practice responsible outdoor recreation as they participate in a geocaching stewardship monitoring project on the Las Cienegas NCA.           

The program is a project of the Hands on the Land National Network of Field Classrooms, organized under public lands agencies of the U.S. government.  Click website links below for more information. Empire Ranch is a Hands on the Land member site.
Learn more about us at the Hands on the Land website:
    http://www.handsontheland.org/profiles/profile_details.cfm?sitecode=emra  
Including a site tour photo slide show:  
    http://www.handsontheland.org/tours/tour.cfm?sitecode=emra&title=  
and an article appearing in Nogales International:  
     http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2007/06/27/news/news6.txt 

Where is the program located? 

At historic Empire Ranch Headquarters, located in the heart of the 42,000-acre Las Cienegas National Conservation Area--U.S. Bureau of Land Management .  
Click here for map and driving directions.

How do I register? 

Click here for registration form.  Class size is limited, and early registration is encouraged.  Register by May 10 to receive a 20% discount.  There is an additional 10% discount for families registering more than one child.

Are scholarships available? 

Limited scholarship funds are available. Click here for scholarship application form. 

Donations to support scholarships are welcomed and are tax deductible.  

Who are the camp instructors? 

Our team of professionals is experienced in teaching students with different knowledge, skill levels, and learning abilities. 
GAIL CORKILL, Ed. D. Education Director
NETZIN STEKLIS, M. S. Ecologist & Conservation Educator
PATTY COOPER, M. Ed. Elementary Education Teacher
JEFFREY COOPER, Local Naturalist & Community Steward

The team is supported by numerous volunteers and guest instructors from the Empire Ranch Foundation membership and from nearby communities and educational institutions.

Questions?

Contact Education Director at (888) 364-2829,  or email  admin@empireranchfoundation.org