ICOA Youth Camp provides common ground for sportsman's groups

By Mark Rhodes, Idaho Fish and Game District Conservation Officer In 2010, the Idaho Conservation Officer's Association (ICOA), in partnership with Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), conducted their first annual Youth Conservation Camp in Cascade, Idaho. The vision behind the camp was to expose kids to a whole bunch of outdoor recreation activities, including shooting, archery, fishing, trapping, hiking, and basic conservation. We not only hoped to instill a conservation ethic in these young people, but also hoped to build a sense of ownership and connection to Fish and Game and Idaho Conservation Officers amongst Idaho's future sportsmen and women. The first couple of years proved to be a bit of a struggle to find 30 interested and willing kids. During a couple of the years we were still trying to fill the camp in July, four months after applications became available to the public. Now, we are in 2016 and preparing for the 7th year of the camp. We have expanded the camp to 45 campers, and registration slots filled in 18 days. The camp has become extremely popular because the kids that attend tell their friends and families, and the next year more kids want to attend. The growth in interest and participation in the camp has been a wonderful development, but one of the unforeseen positive benefits of camp has been the interest and participation by recreational and conservation groups and clubs from around the state, and the relationships being built between the clubs and their local Conservation Officers. Too often there are instances where Conservation Clubs or Sportsman's Groups are at odds with each other, or with IDFG, due to differing philosophies or priorities about management, hunting or fishing methods, or harvest regulations. The ICOA Camp appears to have provided something that everyone agrees is valuable and beneficial for young people, and for Idaho. The common ground created through the camp has led to overwhelming support in the form of donations and sponsorships. Most years, nearly half of the kids get to attend camp for free due to the sponsorship from some group who recognizes the value of sending a kid to camp. Some clubs or groups have been more consistent participants, while others have come and gone. However, none seem to have regretted knowing that their assistance helped a child attend the camp who may not have had the resources. Since 2010, the following groups have contributed donations or sponsorships to the camp: ICOA, IDFG, Citizens Against Poaching, Kootenai Valley Sportsmen, Shoshone County Sportsmen, Bonner County Sportsmen, Bureau of Land Management, Garden Valley Sportsmen, Inland Empire Chapter of Safari Club International, Troy-Deary Gun Club, Cedar Hills Gun Club, Pocatello Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Latah Wildlife Association, Snake River Versatile Gun Dog Club, Sandpoint Archers, Ducks Unlimited, Shoshone County Shooting Range, Priest Lake Sportsmen, Indianhead Fly Fishers, Lewis & Clark Wildlife Club, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. It has been amazing to watch interest grow amongst the groups over the years. What started with about five sponsorships in 2010, has grown to 15 or more in subsequent years. It is not uncommon for me to begin receiving phone calls in February from Sportsman's Groups asking me to make sure that I reserve camper slots for them to sponsor. The ICOA Camp has provided common ground that sportsmen groups of all stripes and from around Idaho have deemed something worthy of their support and favor.