First quarter grant applications were presented and voted on at the February 24, 2026 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 and included the following:
$15,000 was awarded to Southern Arizona Quail Forever to continue their work on the Coronado National Forest Grasslands Restoration project. Decades of drought, altered fire regimes due to fire suppression, loss of perennial flow, topsoil erosion, and historic, unsustainable land-uses have left the grasslands and woodlands of ES Arizona severely compromised. At the proposed project site on Coronado National Forest (CNF) intense fires, over-grazing, and increasingly intense and sporadic weather patterns have resulted in erosion across the site, leading to a decline in vegetative health and water quality/quantity. This project involves building erosion control structures and re-seeding. Additional partners include National Forest Foundation and AZ Game & Fish Department.
$11,000 was awarded to Arizona Outdoor Adventures for their 2026 youth camps. These camps introduce 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. Additional funding is provided by numerous foundations, grants, wildlife organizations, businesses and individuals.
$10,000 was awarded to Arizona Elk Society for their 2026 Wapiti Weekend Event. This event is a flagship youth and family outdoor education program that provides a fully immersive, weekend-long experience focused on conservation education, outdoor skills, and family connection. The event serves approximately 100 youth and their families. Additional partners include Camp Raymond, Scheels, and West Valley Mavericks.
$3,375 was awarded to Into the Wild Outdoors for their 3rd Annual Family Fishing Camp. Attendees will learn effective fishing techniques, how to use binoculars and spotting scopes to locate wildlife, survival skills, and discipleship and character building. Into the Wild Outdoors will provide additional funding.
$1,200 was awarded to AZ Council Trout Unlimited for their 17th 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. AZTU will provide additional funding and AZ Game & Fish Department will provide in-kind support.
$4850 was awarded to AZ Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation for their Marvin Robbins Memorial Youth Turkey Hunt Camps. These family oriented camps introduce youth turkey hunters and their families to spring turkey hunting. Camps include meals, instruction in safe firearms handling, patterning shotguns, ethics, species biology, turkey behavior and hunting techniques, the role of conservation organizations in funding wildlife and habitat conservation, and the North American Model of Conservation. Additional partners include W Bar S Enterprises, AZ Game and Fish Department, U.S Forest Service, AZ Elk Society, Phoenix Varmint Callers.