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ICOO Karl E. Kelley
Memorial Youth Camp
2010 Karl E Kelley Memorial
Youth Camp
Application Is Now Available!
To download the camper application for
this year's Karl E Kelley Memorial Youth Camp is available for
download in .pdf format. If you do not have Adobe PDF
Reader please use the link below:
Download Application - Click Here
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide a summer camp program that will educate
youth about conservation of natural resources by:
1. Offering certification in the Outdoor Education
programs of the DNR Law Enforcement Division.
2. Introducing campers to outdoor life sports which
will teach appreciation for natural resources and cultivate respect for
the Indiana Conservation Officers that protect those
resources.
CAMPER ELIGIBILITY
 This camp experience is
open to any boy or girl that has completed the fifth or sixth grade in the
preceding school year. Camp fee is $250 per camper and includes all meals,
lodging and needed equipment for camp. This fee is subject to change based
on expenses. The first 120 campers will be accepted in the order of
receipt.
Scholarships may be give to children by interested
groups or individuals by simply selecting the child and sending in the
completed application with the camp fee. The ICOO will not select a child
to receive a scholarship by any outside group.
Applications are released
each year after January first through this site and through ICO District
Offices.
HISTORY
 It is our belief that it is vital to educate young
people about the importance of natural resources. We believe also that as
the only state law enforcement agency directly responsible for protecting
these resources and being also mandated to offer and administer the
Outdoor Education courses in Indiana, teaching the concept of enjoying
these resources in a safe and responsible manner is a natural extension of
our law enforcement duties.
Officers Tony Stoll and Keith Dinn, the vice
president and president of the Indiana Conservation Officers Organization
took it upon themselves and the organization to found the Indiana
Conservation Officers Youth Camp in 1997 with the
support of the DNR law Enforcement Division.
 These two officers deserve a great amount of credit
for what they were able to accomplish in less then six months of
preparation.
The first ICO Youth Camp was held at Camp Atterbury
August 3-9, 1997. Seventy-seven campers attended this first camp. This was
the results of word of mouth advertising only.
The camp was moved to the Bear Creek Scout
Reservation in Fayette County in 1998 and the enrollment increased to 120
campers due to increased demand.
We believe that this camp program will grow in
importance as a result of the mandatory hunter education law. We strive to
use the camp as an opportunity to work together with the Indiana Hunter
Education Program and the other DNR divisions in developing this program
and sharpen our skills in order to provide the best outdoor education
programs possible for the people we work for, the citizens of Indiana.
It is also our purpose to educate the people of
Indiana about the duties of the Indiana Conservation Officer and to
cultivate respect for these officers and the important job they do.
We believe that the investment we make in the young
people that attend our camps and the impact that it makes on them and
their families will pay dividends long into the future.
IN MEMORY OF
 In April 1998 F/Sgt. Karl E. Kelley lost his life in
the line of duty while attempting to rescue fellow officers that had
become trapped in a low head dam during a training exercise.
Karl Kelley was an officer's officer. He was a model
to all of us and this loss will be felt for years to come.
The family of F/Sgt. Kelley expressed the desire
that Karl be remembered by teaching the people of Indiana about the
importance of the Indiana Conservation Officer. In response to this
request the ICOO named our newly founded youth camp program in honor and
memory of our fallen brother.
The Karl E. Kelley Conservation Officers Youth Camp
Program will strive to meet this request.
FUTURE PLANS
 We intend to continue developing the youth camp
program to meet the demands and expectations of the people of Indiana. In
2001 our camp relocated to the Ross Camp property owned by the Tippecanoe
County Parks near Lafayette, IN. The ICOO has joined with the IHEA and
the IDNR LED to improve this beautiful property for the good of all. We
believe this partnership will help us meet our future goals for the Karl
E. Kelley ICO Youth Camp.
We will only be able to achieve these goals with
the assistance of the many conservation groups throughout the state.
Any individual, group or business that would like
to be a part of this exciting project is invited to contact the ICOO
through Conservation
Officer Matt Tholen, mtholen@dnr.in.gov
Other
Information
Each camper will take part in or have
access to the following:
- Certification
in Boater education
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Range Day (firearms, bows, tomahawks, etc.)
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Water day at Racoon Lake with the DNR SCUBA team,
canoe safety class, air boat and jet ski rides
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Canoe Trip down the Sugar Creek
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7 day/6 night overnight Camp
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Cost is $250, the first 120 campers will be accepted
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