St. Lawrence County youth can now sign up for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) 68th annual summer camp program, which begins June 28.

“DEC’s environmental education camps have a long tradition of inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Commissioner Martens. “Outdoor recreation and education experiences help campers develop an interest in science, learning and skills that will last a lifetime. I am always gratified when I speak with a student whose career choice was inspired at a DEC camp.”

Parents can register campers through the DEC’s online registration system and pay by credit card, e-check or sponsor code. The cost is $350 for a one-week session. Camp dates and a link to online registration can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html. Families without internet access should call the camp office at 518-402-8014 for information on how to register.

Youth 11 through 17 years old participate in a variety of outdoor activities such as fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering and optional hunter safety education. Campers learn about fields, forests, streams and ponds through hands-on activities and outdoor exploration. DEC counselors teach youth conservation techniques used by natural resource professionals, such as measuring trees and estimating wildlife populations.

New this season, camps will operate from Sunday through Friday afternoon. The closing ceremony and pick-up date and time has changed from Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Pack Forest will host an outdoor adventure week July 12-17 for 14 to 17-year-old campers offering opportunities for youth to hone their outdoor skills in cast fishing, fly tying and fly fishing, target shooting, safe fire arm handling, tracking, back country camping, archery, outdoor survival skills, plant identification, trapping, bird identification, outdoor photography, canoeing and kayaking.

Sporting clubs, civic groups and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Groups who sponsor six paid campers will receive a scholarship to send a seventh child to camp for free. Sponsors who are paying for campers can set up their accounts immediately and provide campers’ parents with the codes so they can register their child as soon as possible. Information about becoming a sponsor is available at www.dec.ny.gov/education/1866.html on DEC’s website.

For more information, visit www.dec.ny.gov, call 518-402-8014, visit "NYS DEC Summer Camps" on Facebook or write to DEC Camps, 4th Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-5256