Wappapello, Missouri - Thirty-six girls ages 11 to 15 recently attended Discover Nature Girls Camp at Camp SEMO, near Wappapello, for three days and two nights. Conservation agents, biologists and other conservation staff members led the camp, hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
“Our goal with this camp is to get more young women involved in the outdoors and conservation,” said Conservation Agent Christa Cox. “We find that not as many women continue to take part in hunting or other outdoor activities throughout their lives as men do. So, we hope this camp will help to form a foundational appreciation for the outdoors that will keep these young women more involved in the outdoors and conservation well into the future.”
Activities at the camp included learning about archery, shooting skills and firearm actions, tree stand safety, outdoor safety, water safety, fish identification and fishing, orienteering, camp cooking and a bat trapping demonstration.
“Many of the girls were excited about the archery session,” Cox said. “We were able to watch many of them improve their skills in this event. They also enjoyed the nature trails and canoeing quite a bit.”
Shawndra Burkhart, of Jackson, sent her 11-year-old daughter, Carrisa, to the Discover Nature Girls Camp. Burkhart said the camp worked out so well for Carrisa, she hopes to be able to send her younger daughter to the camp next year.
“The fact that they were able to do their hunter safety test at the camp was very helpful, and all of the outdoor safety rules that they learned are valuable for everyday living,” Burkhart said.
Burkhart said her daughter “wouldn’t stop talking about how much fun she had.”
“She learned a lot but she also had a blast. She liked the boat ride especially, but there were a lot of different things she enjoyed,” Burkhart said.
Cox said that as a woman working in conservation, seeing that enthusiasm from the campers and sharing her outdoor knowledge with the younger women is rewarding.
“Passing along my knowledge and skills on to other females and sharing the joy that I have experienced in the outdoors with them was exhilarating,” she said.
Cox said this year’s camp was a success and she believes the experience will have a positive impact on the girls that attended.
“I encourage every young girl of any interest or skill level in the outdoors to attend one of these camps,” Cox said.
Cox said the Discover Nature Girls Camps will continue throughout the state as well as in Southeast Missouri. Information on future Discover Nature Girls Camps throughout the state can be found online at mdc.mo.gov.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Fire Department and the Bell City Fire Department are among several Southeast Missouri fire departments to receive matching grants from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) foresters are delivering Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA) matching funds grant checks to rural fire departments during July and August.
Of the 177 fire departments receiving checks, 31 of those fire departments are in Missouri’s southeast region.
The checks, which range in amounts of no greater than $4,000 are purposed to help the departments’ purchase personal protective gear and firefighting equipment. The gear and equipment is used in fighting wildfire as well as in structure fire suppression efforts, according to Joe Garvey, forestry regional supervisor for the MDC’s Southeast Region.
“These grants are an example our mission to work with communities and citizens to ensure our forests are around for the long haul,” Garvey said.
The total funding awarded to Missouri fire departments through the VFA matching funds grant program this year is $378,665. Fire departments are required to match 50 percent of the funds which are provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Forest Service, Volunteer Fire Assistance Program.
Throughout the last 30 years, more than $7.5 million has been distributed to rural fire departments to help increase the safety of firefighters and provide better firefighting equipment.
Fire departments and protection districts in southeast Missouri that received matching funds grants are:
Bell City FD, Biehle Community FPA, Bloomsdale Volunteer FPD, Caruthersville FD, Charleston Dept. of Public Safety, Cherokee Pass FD, Desloge VPD, Dexter Fire Department, Doe Run FPD, East County FPD, Ellington VFD, Fredericktown FPD, Fruitland Area FPD, Glen Allen FPD, Goose Creek Lake FPD, Gordonville FPD, Hayti FPD, Lake Timberline VFD, Leadington FPD, Leopold VFD, Marble Hill FD, North Cape County (Friedheim) VFD, Northern Reynolds County FPD, Park Hills FPD, Rural Perry County FPA, Scott City FPD, Scott County Rural FPD, SICFPD, St. Mary FPD, Terre Du Lac FD, Wappappello VFD, and Wolf Creek FPD
For more information on the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program, go online to mdc.mo.gov. For specific information on matching grants in your local area, contact your local fire department.
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Dexter, Missouri – With school starting in less than a month it’s time to starting thinking about school supplies! A & A Loans located can help you with your financial needs. They are located at 907 B. West Hwy 60 just behind Family Video,
Stop by their office, apply for a loan, and enter a “Backpack Full of School Supplies” drawing to be held August 11, 2014.
A & A Loans specializes in Check and Title Loans. For Check Loans bring in current bank statement, proof of income, proof of address and a valid photo ID. For Title Loans bring in title in applicant's name, proof of insurance, current registration, proof of income, proof of address, valid photo ID, and one extra set of keys.A & A Loans is open from 8:30 a.m. – 6::00 p.m. on Monday and Friday. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Contact Dana at 573-624-8887 for more information or stop by their office.
A & A Loans is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a sponsor of The ShowMe Times.
Bloomfield, Missouri – Stoddard County residents may now vote via Absentee Ballot for the August 5th Primary Election and Special Election.
You can stop by the County Clerks office in the Government Building in Bloomfield to request an absentee ballot. You must fill out the application, which includes a reason you would like to vote absentee. It only takes a few minutes of your time and you will be able to vote that day.
You may also request an absentee ballot by mail. Please include the following information: Legal name of voter as listed on the voter registration card, current mailing address, date of birth, reason for voting absentee, and the your signature. Since the upcoming election is a primary, you must also let them know which ballot you would like (Democrat or Republican, etc.).
Send information and request to County Clerk Joe Watson, P.O. Box 110, Bloomfield, Missouri 63825.
Either way don’t forget to vote! It is extremely important that you as an American Citizen should exercise your right to vote!
Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is accepting applications from July 21 through Aug. 18 for its next class of conservation agent trainees. Selected candidates will undergo 26 weeks of intense training in all facets of law enforcement and resource management.
Those who make the grade will receive county assignments and become the face of conservation in their assigned communities – enforcing the Wildlife Code of Missouri and helping the public with issues such as nuisance wildlife and land management.
To qualify, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the natural sciences or criminal justice.
To apply -- and for more information including salary range, duties and responsibilities, degree requirements, qualifications, and special-ability requirements -- visit the Job Openings section of the MDC website Careers page at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/careers.
Contact MDC Protection Programs Supervisor Cheryl Fey at 573-751-4115, ext. 3819, or Cheryl.Fey@mdc.mo.gov with questions.
