About NRYC
The Natural Resources Youth Camp (NRYC) was founded by a group of resource
professionals in 1983. Together, they developed a camp designed to provide
Western Washington youth learning experiences in the understanding,
interrelatedness and wise use of natural resources.
The goals of NRYC are:
- To provide hands-on experiences that will whet the interest of the participants to learn more about the natural resources;
- To provide participants with an appreciation of natural resources and promote good management and wise use of natural resources throughout their lives;
- And, at a minimum, the camp will help participants to better cope with the ever increasing human pressures on all natural resources.
Where are we?
The camp is held at the Cispus Learning Center, which is located on a tree-clad 45-acre site in beautiful Gifford Pinchot National Forest, in the southeastern portion of Lewis County. This unique facility includes heated dormitories, dining hall, education building, gymnasium, nurses station, library, campfire, amphitheater, and trail systems. The Cispus River Valley is covered by dense second-growth forest consisting primarily of conifers, but with a scattering of deciduous trees. The Center is bordered by the Cispus River on the north and by Yellowjacket Creek on the east. There are several waterfalls and a cave located near the camp.
Who are we?
The Natural Resources Youth Camp has a resident camp manager, camp director, nurse, registrar, recreation coordinator, program coordinator, CIT Coordinator, at least 3 board members, six counselors-in-training, and minimum of six counselors 24 hours per day. Career resource professionals are on site two or more days during the week. Each dorm has at least two resident leaders.
Keith Underwood, Camp Director, brings a wealth of both hands on and educational experience as the 2010 Director of the NRYC camp. He has a Masters in Public Administration with a BA in Communications, including a minor in Horticulture. His occupational background includes academic experience as faculty for WSU, the Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College where he taught courses in Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming Practices. Additionally his work with the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife as a Education and Outreach professional brings a connection to the environment in a way unique to this camp. A native of Washington, he grew up in Eastern Washington, moving to Western Washington in 1998 where he lives on a small farm that has a stream on it that is being reestablished with Coho and Chum Salmon. Keith has a wealth of experience in outdoor environmental camp programs having served on the NRYC Board and also as the Fish and Wildlife professional for the sessions offered at this camp.
Kate Stark, program coordinator, is a junior at Washington State University where she is persuing a major in Wildlife Ecology with a minor in English. Her academic studies have had an emphasis on plant identification, forest health, and habitat protection; and she is looking forward to the wildlife side this coming year. She was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to Washington in 1993. Growing up in Washington gave her the experience of working on a farm, exercising horses, camping, hiking and fishing. Kate has participated in numerous garden projects and is now the proud caretaker of a large garden on her family's new 22 acres, complete with chickens. In high school she was a counselor at Cispus and it was one of her favorite experiences to date. She hopes to be able to work educating kids and their families about wildlife and their part in preserving our natural environment.
These enthusiastic natural resource professionals serve as the Board of Directors.
| Board of Directors | |
|---|---|
| Kathleen Whalen, Chair | Thurston Conservation District |
| Debbie Smith, Vice Chair | Tumwater Stream Team |
| Kahle Jennings, Treasurer | City of Centralia Utilities Dept. |
| Sarah Wooten, Secretary | Thurston Conservation District |
| Kandi Bauman | |
| Tom Fox | Tree Management Plus |
| Sara Scott | Nisqually River Council |
| Jim Freed | WSU Extension - Forestry Stewardship |
| Bill Wamsley | Lewis Co. Noxious Weed Control Board |
These Associate Members provide valuable input and direction for the camp program and are active participants in the program.
| Associate Members | |
|---|---|
| John Bergvall | Society of American Foresters |
These Supporting Members provide input and direction for the camp program. They, too, are active participants in the program.
| Supporting Members | |
|---|---|
| Danielle Warner | Growing Places Farm & Energy Park |
| Jim Murphy | Former Board Member |
| Lois Ruskell | Snohomish Conservation District |
| John Gross | 2007 Camp Director/Longview School District |
| Sara Carter | Former Board Member |
| Janet Pearce | WA Dept of Natural Resources |
These are the Founding Members of the NRYC board.
| Supporting Members | |
|---|---|
| Linda Arentzen (Mrs. Lynn Brown) | |
| Bernice Graves | Whatcom Conservation District |
| Dennis Jones | Chequamegon NF |
| Jim Michael | |
| John Munn (Deceased 2003) | |
| Norm Schaaf | Merril-Ring |
| Dr. Grant W. Sharpe (Deceased 2006) | |
| Richard Wallace | Dept of Ecology |
| Noel Wolff | Retired |