Outdoors: Youth Trapper Camp serves to educate

Youth Trapper Camp Inc. a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization held their 19th Annual youth camp the weekend of June 8-10 at Beaver Creek Park's Camp Kiwanis south of Havre.

The main purpose of the camp is to educate both youth and adults about humane, ethical trapping and the part it plays in the conservation of a Montana renewable resource - the fur bearer.

Each year brings new families from throughout Montana. This year the campers were from Baker to Raynesford; Chinook to Dillon and all towns in between. Not only do campers come from Montana, they come from throughout the United States. This year's attendees were from the states of Montana, Missouri, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, but states from as far away as Louisiana and Pennsylvania have attended.

YTC Inc. has five staff members and 25 instructors. Family participation is encouraged, but youth over the age of 10 can attend without a parent or guardian. It is also open to anyone regardless of race or religion. Those with special needs are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

This year's camp was attended by 81 youth and 51 parents. Age of campers ranged from 2 to 78 years old.

Those coming to camp for the first year attended classes on site. These classes included trap placement, baits, lures, ethics, conservation, trapping regulations, health concerns, skinning and trapline safety.

Second year attendees constructed snares, wooden pelt stretchers and predator calls and attended classes on wildlife management and knife and gun safety. They also spent Saturday afternoon practicing trap and snare placement under the guidance of qualified instructors.

If youths choose to attend YTC Inc. for three years or more and if the instructors feel they are capable, these youth are allowed to go out with one-on-one instruction and set traps. Permission is requested and granted from Beaver Creek Park and adjoining landowners to do animal damage control trapping. This year's advanced group successfully harvested problem beaver in the park plus a beaver and coyote on private land.

Upon their return to camp these youth were given proper instruction on skinning and taking proper care of the animal harvested.

For more information on YTC Inc. go to http://www.montanatrappers.org and follow the link to Youth Trapper Camp Inc.