Youth Conservation Camp Grants

The Commissioner may issue up to 10 moose hunting permits through public auction to the highest bidders as provided in 12 M.R.S. §11154 (11).  Pursuant to 12 M.R.S. §10206 (8), all revenues derived from the sale of moose hunting permits through the auction must be deposited into a special non-lapsing account by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ("Department") and be used to pay the costs of administering the process of issuing permits and to fund youth conservation education programs.  Those monies are deposited into a dedicated youth conservation education account ("fund") administered by the Department.

Who May Apply

Any summer camp, day camp, residential camp or any other conservation education organization may seek funding from the fund.  Applicants must have the ability and documented experience to provide the Department approved curriculum.  A grant review committee will distribute the funds annually.

 Other criteria to be met:

1. Proof of a current license and documentation of compliance with all rules relating to Youth Camps, Primitive and Trip Camping (10-144 CMR 208) as administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
2. A copy of the previous and current year's operating budgets.
3. A list of camp staff positions and when possible, resumes of staff filling those positions and for how long, including but not limited to summer camp director, program manager, counselors, cooks, nurses, and maintenance staff.
4. A list of camp equipment necessary and available for implementing the Department  topics and curriculum with seasonal and annual maintenance plans.
5. Program administration tasks including but not limited to:
   1. Year-round response to requests for information/ inquiries
   2. Creation and updating of brochure/registration printing and mailings
   3. Camp marketing and promotion to a statewide audience
   4. Maintenance of an electronic database of current campers and other interested parties
   5. Processing of all camper registrations, maintenance of medical forms, camper confirmations, cancellations, and last minute replacements
   6. Organization of weekly room/space assignments for campers with desired 50/50 boy/girl ratios
   7. Maintenance of a year-round web site
   8. A current annual medical emergency plan
6. Any or all organizations selected to deliver Department youth conservation education programming shall be subject to several random, unannounced site and program monitoring visits for the duration of camp weeks from Department staff or its approved agent(s) The agents will be documenting and ensuring satisfactory and consistent delivery of Department programming throughout the summer camp season. Any observations made will be shared with camp's staff as they are reported after each visit.