First quarter grant applications were presented and voted on at the February 25, 2020 AZSFWC Board meeting. Funding for the grants is available through sales of our special Conserving Wildlife license plate. More information about the license plate and how you can obtain one can be found HERE.
Six grants were approved in the amount of $31,288 and included the following:
$7,000 was awarded to Arizona Outdoor Adventures for their Youth Camps at Patagonia Lake. Two separate 3-5 day camps will be held at Patagonia Lake State Park in the spring of 2020 with 20 youth attending each. These camps are part of their overall program, which introduces youth to and fosters a lifelong connection with nature, exposing them to the peace and quiet of the outdoors. Campers experience tent camps and participate in a variety of outdoor activities. Campfire talks and “teachable moments” while hiking and fishing provide opportunities for the youth to connect with knowledgeable and caring adults who model stewardship and impart information about the natural environment. The campers learn respect for themselves, others and the environment; how to make constructive life choices; and responsibility and cooperation with their families and authority figures.
$5,000 was awarded to NAU’s Centennial Forest for their summer camp program. The main goal of the program is to “nurture the love of nature” in kids ages 9-17 so that they can become our next generation of environmental stewards. AZSFWC funding will provide scholarships for 18 youth to attend. Other funding partners include AZ Community Foundation Flagstaff, Ecological Restoration Institute, and NAU School of Forestry.
$5,000 was awarded to the Valley of the Sun Chapter of Quail Forever for their National Outdoors Women’s Weekend. This is the first annual event dedicated to women in the shooting and hunting sports. Activities will include presentations on gun safety and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, shooting clinic, sporting clay shoot, upland hunting, hunting dog seminar, shed hunting and plantation quail hunting. Other funding partners include Savage Arms, Vista Outdoors, Wildfowler, Franchi, and Valley of the Sun Quail Forever.
$1,988 was awarded to the AZ Council of Trout Unlimited for their 11th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference. The Conference was founded in 2010 with the goal to provide a free educational conference for those interested to meet, network, and develop future plans to promote restoration and management of watersheds and native fish species in Arizona. The upcoming conference will take place on April 25, 2002 with an expected 150 registrations with representatives from over 50 conservation organizations, state and federal agencies. Other funding and in-kind support partners include AZ Game & Fish, AZ Flycasters, Old Pueblo Trout Unlimited Chapter, Trout Unlimited (National) and AZ Council of Trout Unlimited.
$7,300 was awarded to the AZ Chapter of NWTF to support their 2020 Marvin Robbins Youth Turkey Camps. The purpose of the camps is to introduce families and youth hunters to spring turkey hunting in a safe family-oriented environment during a juniors-only hunt where the focus is on creating a positive experience and enthusiasm for hunting. Many Arizona parents, including seasoned hunters and non-hunters do not have the knowledge and/or skill in spring turkey hunting techniques. By providing a mentored opportunity for the youth and their families to acquire the knowledge and skills, it is anticipated they will be inclined to continue hunting. Each camp will provide opportunity for up to 75 youth hunters and their families to participate. Funding and in-kind partners include state and local NWTF chapters, AZ Elk Society, and AZ Game & Fish.
$5,000 was awarded to Christian Hunters of America for the purchase of an event trailer. The trailer will be used for storage and hauling of equipment used for recruitment and retention activities including mentored hunts, seminars and shooting events throughout the state. Christian Hunters of America will provide additional funding.
Deadline to apply for the 2nd Quarter Cycle is April 1, 2020. Click HERE for more information and a link to the application.
To see the list of previously awarded grants, click HERE.