Campers with the Ponoka Fish and Game Association summer camps J-stroked, draw, and cried down the North Saskatchewan River and were able to experience first hand what the river valley was like and at times didn’t even realize they were in the city.
Dale Jess, youth chair for the Ponoka Fish and Game Association, has helped out at the youth camp for many years and thinks that this year’s camp and trip were a great success.
The association recently ran two youth camps at their grounds. The PFG Youth Conservation Camp at Lake Pofianga went from July 21 to 24 with 20 campers in attendance. They obtained their Wildlife Identification Number (WIN), which they need to have to receive their hunting license. They learned how to canoe, do archery, long rifle safety skills and time on the trap range.
Jess thinks that over his 10 years instructing at the camp he always benefits.
The second camp was the Central Alberta Zone three Conservation Camp from July 28 to Aug. 1 with 22 campers having an overnight camping experience. They received their WIN, Possession Only License and a boat safety course.
The camp ended with a canoe trip on the North Saskatchewan River with 30 youths, ages six to 11 and 10 adults in two 24 foot voyager canoes and five tandems canoes. The trip started bright and early as they put in at Devon and traveled seven hours and ended their trip in Edmonton at Laurier Park. The group stopped for lunch at an island, swam in the river, played in the mud and searched for crabs.
Jess thinks that the trip is a great asset to the camp and something that the youth always enjoy.
“It’s something that every kid that goes on it always remembers. It’s good training, once they get on the big water the skills they have learned are useful,” said Jess. “It’s important for the kids to get outdoors because they gain an appreciation for the outdoors.”