The Texas Brigades is accepting applications for its summer 2010 camps; both youth and adult are due April 1.

Youth are taught leadership skills and natural resources conservation at the camps, each of which are limited to 20 to 30 students, ages 13 through 17, said Dr. Dale Rollins, AgriLife Extension Wildlife Specialist at San Angelo and the concepts originator.

“The camps are designed to develop life skills such as critical thinking and team-building through fun and interesting activities that focus on a particular game species,” Rollins said.

“As I reflect on my career, the dividends I’ve witnessed from the Brigades camps are not only professionally rewarding, but they also stoke my fires daily to push for conservation education,” he said. “And I believe those same sentiments apply to each and every one of the 100 or so volunteers who assist with the various camps.”

A lot of high school students aspire to find a career in wildlife management, but the field has always been highly competitive, said Rollins. Participation in the Brigade camps offers them a chance to get not only a taste for such careers, but also to develop a network of contacts who can help them achieve their career goals.

Camp dates and locations follow.

• 11th Battalion, South Texas, Buckskin Brigade, Carrizo Springs, June 13-17.

• 18th Battalion, Rolling Plains, Bobwhite Brigade, Coleman, June 19-23.

• 13th Battalion, South Texas, Bobwhite Brigade, Campbellton, June 27-July 1.

• 5th Battalion, Bass Brigade, Santa Anna, July 12-16.

• 9th Battalion, North Texas Buckskin Brigade, Albany, July 18-22.

The camps are a partnership effort of Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, several universities, conservation groups, local soil and water conservation districts, and private businesses and individuals with an interest in wildlife and youth leadership development.

Tuition is $300 per cadet per camp, but sponsors are available to provide financial aid if needed, Rollins said.

“We’re also always looking for highly motivated adults from 20 to 60 years of age who are willing to serve as leaders,” Rollins said. “They’ll get a one-of-a-kind intensive workshop in the game species they choose.”

Applications may be completed online or downloaded at www.texasbrigades.org.

They must be postmarked by April 1.

For information, contactHelen Holdsworth at h_holdsworth@texas wildlife.org or Kassi Scheffer at kscheffer@texas-wildlife.org or phone toll-free (800) TEX-WILD or (210) 826-2904.