Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education: March 31st-April 2nd, 2017

• Free, all-expense paid conference. (travel arrangements are up to the participant)
• For students ages 16-19 years old; see http://www.virginia.coop/View.aspx?page=youthactivities#vicedocs for more information
• VICE is a three-day youth leadership conference
• interactive, educational and entertaining
• students enhance their business, teamwork, and leadership skills.
• Hands-on with “the cooperative way of doing business
• Features “Who’s Minding the Store”, a computerized, interactive, business-simulation game involving making business decisions for a fictional farm-supply store.
• Scholarship Opportunity. $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 awarded to the three top performers

Holiday Lake Forestry Camp: June 19-24, 2017

• for students ages 13-16 years old; See http://dof.virginia.gov/forestry/camp/ for more information.
• Holiday Lake Forestry Camp is ideal for students:
  – to explore and experience activities in forestry and wildlife related careers
  – who participate in 4-H/FFA teams, Envirothon competitions, or ecology clubs
  – to experience hands on learning about natural resources conservation
• Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Ecology, Reforestation and Tree Improvement, Tree Measurement and ID, Environmental Protection, and Wildlife Management
• Other learning experiences include a field trip to a local paper mill; urban forestry demonstrations; exploratory classes in topics such as forest fire equipment and tactics, wilderness survival, canoeing, archery, skeet marksmanship, and wood turning; and lead by Conservation Police Officers, arson investigators, and wildlife researchers.
• Campers participate in a Lumberjack Field Day with group competition in crosscut sawing, log rolling, and other traditional outdoor skills contests.

Youth Conservation Camp: July 9-15, 2017

• For students in grades 9-12 – Contact local SWCD for application, sponsorship provided
• YCC is a week-long summer conservation camp for Virginia high school students held on the campus of Virginia Tech. The program brings together students for a week of learning about natural resources. Most of the instruction is hands-on and outdoors.
• Find more info here: http://vaswcd.org/conservation-camp

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

VA Soil and Water Conservation District Scholarships

• contact local SWCD for local scholarship opportunity
• Scholarship program provides financial support to students in a college course curriculum
  related to natural resources or environmental conservation or agriculture and life sciences.
• State Scholarship Deadline – March 24th.
• Application available: http://vaswcd.org/student-scholarships

Outstanding Young Agriculturist Award – by Farm Bureau

• The Outstanding Young Agriculturalist Award recognizes a high school junior or senior for
  outstanding academic, community and agricultural achievement. The award also encourages students to strive for leadership opportunities and involvement in the agriculture sector.
• Scholarship awards for district, runner-up, and state winners
• Applications due by March 31st
• Find more info here: https://www.vafb.com/Portals/FBA/PDFs_and_Resources/membership_at_work/oya_2017.pdf