Columnist Barb Henderson: Wyoming: one big classroom

Barb Henderson

Friday, Aug. 23, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Safari Club International's American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) under the western skies around Jackson Hole, Wyo.

The local SCI Desert-Vegas Chapter sponsored this unique journey for an outdoors journalist to observe the outdoors "classroom" in session.

Since 1976, 3,556 teachers and 1,077 high school students from throughout the U.S. have attended the AWLS program, thanks to the sponsorship dollars of SCI chapters and other conservation-related organizations. That number includes approximately 40 Nevada schoolteachers sponsored by Nevada chapters.

My education in Wyoming started the second the plane touched down in Jackson Hole with the breathtaking view of the Teton Mountains. Traveling in a SCI van, we arrived at the AWLS lodge surrounded by the Bridger-Teton National Forest, nestled at an elevation of 6,760 feet. The morning air temperature had risen from a brisk 36 degrees to a wonderful 54. What a nice change from the 109 degrees that I left behind in Las Vegas.

While relaxing in the pines, the schoolteachers arrived from Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Many had never been out West. The solitude and serenity of the western wilderness filled my heart with appreciation for the outdoors, while I kept my focus on the teachers exploring this new area with anticipation and wonder. The ranch setting included shooting ranges, hot springs, mountains, trees, wildflowers, creeks, rivers, wildlife and miles of beautiful scenery.

The next few days were spent on AWLS objectives: To acquaint teachers with the basic principles of wildlife ecology and management; to provide outdoor experiences related to wildlife ecology and management through field trips and field laboratory activities; to provide information about the SCI Foundation and the role of hunting; to provide information about environment education in the areas of history, philosophy, resources, interpretive techniques, available programs and current and future trends; and to provide instruction and hands-on experiences in outdoor skills including backpacking, survival, fly tying, shooting sports and white water rafting.

On one of the field trips, we joined Bureau of Land Management officials. It was the first introduction to the federal agency for many of the teachers who posed interesting questions regarding public lands. Other field trips included representatives from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

The experience could be summed up in four words:

The indoor lectures: interesting.

The outdoor sessions: fascinating.

The food: delicious.

The new friendships: spectacular.

During free time, we fly fishers decided to "wet-a-line" on some of the beautiful rivers. Jim Brown, SCI Director of Public Relations, caught his first fish on a fly rod. From his excitement, I'd say he's now hooked on fly fishing.

SCI is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation. The SCI Foundation funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services.

There are three SCI chapters in Nevada -- SCI Silver State, SCI Desert and SCI Northern Nevada. For more information on SCI call 1-800-377-5399 or visit www.SafariClubFoundation.org or www.SafariClub.org on the Internet.

Outdoors digest

Range officers and NDOW Hunter Education instructors will be standing by to insure safety and to provide instruction. Range time and targets are free. Shooting starts at 8 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. Call NDOW at 486-5127 to reserve a time.

Until next week, enjoy the great outdoors.