By Nick Hromiak

Special to the Press

Pre-teens ages 12-15 can gain some valuable experience that could prepare them for a future career in wildlife enforcement. And that can happen at the upcoming Junior Game Warden Camps hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The PGC is again holding Junior Game Warden Camps across the Commonwealth that will provide hands-on experience on what a game warden does. The one-day camp will be a structured, fun-filled day of learning that’s not taught in public schools. They’ll join wardens who will oversee various hands-on learning stations that will include forensics and methods used by wardens to catch poachers and solve wildlife-related crimes. The camp will feature wildlife capture techniques, woodland tracking and outdoor survival with some light physical activities.

The camp will show the methods wardens use to track down lost hikers, how they live-trap bears and other wildlife for research, or a trap-and-transfer of other various wildlife.

According to the PGC, the one-day camp will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.. Registration for the camps can be completed online on the PGC’s website. Registration is limited to those who have not attended a camp held previously.

While there are six regional camps scheduled across the state, the two closest to the Lehigh Valley are as follows:

*Northeast Region: Thursday, July 22, at Outdoor Insiders, 310 Outdoor Drive, New Milford, PA, 18834. Registration is limited to 45 participants.

*Southeast Region: Friday, July 25, at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA 17578. Registration is limited to 60 participants.

WHITEHALL FISHING DERBY

The Free Trout Fishing Derby scheduled at Hokey Park on Saturday, May 24, was canceled by the Whitehall Parks and Recreation Department. It has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 22 at 8 a.m.

FREE FISHING DAY

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has set Sunday, May 25, for the first Free Fishing Day where a fishing license is not needed to fish Commonwealth waters.

This is a good time for those who would like to try the lifelong sport or for seniors who quit fishing but would like to give it a try again.

Although local streams are a bit high and off-colored, there are remaining trout in those that were recently stocked. So it may take some perseverance to hook up with a trout or two. If not streams or rivers, Leaser Lake is in good shape and producing a variety of fish including panfish, trout and huge muskies.