Sometimes things go wrong and you just don’t have enough expertise or manpower to get those things fixed.  Here’s a special thanks to Scott Shultz, a long time friend, who was one of the very first supporters of the Camp Compass Program and the Shultz Organization for stepping up to help with a sliding barrier at our academy.  Its nice to know that you can call on friends and comunity businesses who really care about helping and not always about the final payment that comes with it.

Check out the pictures from our latest cooperative opportunity with Cornell university.  This time we were only chasing birds with our eyes.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration/community/minigrants/mini-grants-2012/camp-compass-allentown-pennsylvania

Luke G. decided to do his science fair project on a topic most would not even consider.  So when he contacted us to talk about how to go about getting it accomplished, we just couldn’t say no.  Luke decided to see if deer attractants worked in the feeding choice of whitetail deer.  Here’s a look at his finished product.  Way to go Luke, who is pictured in the post below 4th from the left,  you earned your reward hunt by taking your best SHOT at school!

This time it was the boys chasing the wiley longbeard of Pennsylvania.  Special thanks to all of the guides that give their time year after year for the Pennsylvania youth turkey day. Full Fan Lodge has offered the expert guidance in the woods of upstate Pennsylvania each year the Junior hunting program has been in effect and 5 years beyond it.  It is a special opportunity for our students to stay in an real hunting lodge and sit down and share their road to earning this reward with caring “Bullets.”  Although the turkeys beat us this year, the Camp Compass students still hold a winning record overall.

What’s it like to take a child with no experience and get them to the point of passing a state exam is a feeling not many people can say they have been part of.  Chad Groover has been teaching our level one students to do just that for the past 10 years.  “Our program goes so deep that, you couldn’t hold your breath to get to the bottom of it without pasing out” Chad responded, after all of the students getting their Hunter Safety Cetificate.  Its a rite of passage for the level one students of the academy to par take in if they want to continue to move up on the ladder.  Hundreds of children attempt the year long first level but only a few show the dedication to move into the Exploration level of the program.  Kudos to the students, many who walked for blocks, carrying their digest to and from Academy on making us all very proud!  Read more... (183 words, 1 image, estimated 44 secs reading time)

What can we say about 6 young ladies working hard at life then getting up before dawn and wanting to go turkey hunting.  Well, heck yeah let’s go!  Its still amazing to see that a reward like a turkey hunt can instill awesome attitudes, good grades, work ethic  and the willingness to become a leader.  We only had three young ladies originally scheduled, but when it was brought to our attention that 6 actually qualified we had to make good on our side.   So, in true Compass Compass form we made it work and so did Mother Nature.  Beautiful weather greated us this past weekend and so did the sounds of turkey gobbles.  Special thanks to Pipeline Ridge for giving our young ladies a safe place to live and learn!

Camp Compass was recently announced as a mini-grant winner for an urban bird study with Cornell University.  Congratulations!!!

I’m sure the children are glad that the PSSA Testing has come to an end.  It seems that the testing stresses out everybody.  Well, at Camp Compass we are getting ready for another state test.  The Pennsylvania Hunter Safety Test.  It has become a ritual each spring for our level one students to prepare for hours in hopes of gaining the right to move into the second levle of our program.  Isn’t it crazy how a child, if engagued and encouraged, will carry a study guide 6 city blocks because they want to experience something new.

Nothing like eating dinner with 25 students and using cloth napkins.  The Lehigh Valley chapter of SCI took care of our children again by inviting them to their dinner and fundraiser.  Our relationship over the past 16 years has allowed hundreds of children to take part in our first level of the program.  In addition, to the meal their members were able to bid on a donated package from Mountiantop Whitetail Haven and bullets were flying.

Way to go ZACH!

After almost 12 years of providing taxidermy support for our children it was great to see so many taxidermists continuing to be  vital partners in the direction of Camp Compass.  He re is our youngest taxidermy specialist that has signed on to keep the ball rolling.  Zachary Evans and a slew of others continue to dedicate hours of their work to children that work hard to ean their rewards. Kudos, PTA and thanks for being part of the family!