Empire Ranch Foundation
Wild About the Grasslands! (WATG!)
2012 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 two summer camp sessions  at the historic Empire Ranch in the heart of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.  This unique education program aims 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.         
Click here for Registration Form.         Click here for scholarship application form.     Register by March 5 to receive $10 discount. 

WATG!  Nature Heritage Discovery Summer Day Camp (Ages 9-12) 
June 4-6, 2012 
9 am to 3 pm 

This hands-on experiential camp offers guided hikes and explorations as young "grasslanders" discover the landscape surrounding the Empire Ranch Headquarters. They will engage in nature study, plant and wildlife identification, nature heritage journaling, legacy quests, and participate in cowboy skills and traditions of the families who lived and worked on Empire Ranch. Through art activities and outdoor recreation games they will make new friends and learn to appreciate this unique, historic place. The three-day $150 camp includes a free commemorative t-shirt and the book, Heritage Discovery Journal: A personal record of observing the landscape of the Las Ciengas National Conservation Area. There is also a one-day camp option for $60

WATG!  Summer Adventure Camp (Ages 13-16) 
June 7-8, 2012 
8:30 am to 4:30 pm 

Through guided expeditions and stewardship projects lead by local naturalists, scientists, and ranchers, teen conservationists will discover the important resources of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. They will explore the vegetation communities of the landscape and riparian zone along Cienega Creek. Some of the many hands-on, minds-on activities they will engage in include: birding, wildlife tracking, macro invertebrate study, water and rangeland monitoring, and use Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for field research and outdoor fun. The two-day $150 camp includes a free commemorative tee shirt and the book, My Nature Heritage Discovery Journal: A personal record of observing the landscape of the Las Ciengas National Conservation Area. There is also a one-day camp option for $85.

The WATG! 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 March 5 to receive $10 discount.   There is a 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