April 2021 - 15

Brian Parker, Game and Fish habitat
and access supervisor in Lander, was on the
ground floor of the planning process for the
camp renovations. Parker said infrastructure
improvements such as water lines and systems,
sewer lines and electrical service were the most
important parts of bringing the facility up
with the times.
" Prior to the renovation, these systems
were quite dilapidated and cobbled together, "
Parker said. " Their replacement has resulted in
a system that is substantially more efficient and
operationally effective. Further, these upgrades
have allowed the department to use the camp
later into the season to provide a more costeffective location for camps and department
meetings. "
Other significant upgrades included
upgrades so the camp complied with
Americans with Disabilities Act access
guidelines, including two new accessible
cabins. All of the cabins received significant
upgrades, including new windows, doors,
flooring, lighting, bathroom fixtures and water
heaters. The outside of cabins also had various
work done - depending on needs - which
included the sealing of wooden joints, siding,
facade work and roof improvements.
" Improvements to the facility had become
critical, " said Margaret James, Game and Fish
administrative assistant for its services division.
" If there was going to be any type of future
for the camp, many of these improvements
were necessary. "
The Whiskey Mountain Conservation

Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp near Dubois has several
cabins. Photographed is one of the camp's smaller cabins.
(Photo by Parker Loew/WGFD)

A group of girls between the ages of 14 and 16 participate in a team-building exercise in 2019 at the Whiskey Mountain
Conservation Camp near Dubois. (Photo by Ashley Leonard/WGFD)

THE WHISKEY MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION CAMP IS LOCATED
WITHIN THE TORREY VALLEY AND THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH
DEPARTMENT'S WHISKEY BASIN WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT
AREA, WHICH PROVIDES CRUCIAL WINTER HABITAT FOR BIGHORN
SHEEP, ELK AND MULE DEER. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO
SIGN UP FOR CAMPS, GO TO: HTTPS://WGFD.WYO.GOV/EDUCATION/
CONSERVATION-EDUCATION/SUMMER-CAMPS

Camp Working Group was formed to help
with the renovation plans, which consisted of
local citizens from Dubois who had historic ties
to the camp. One of the group's goals was to
maintain the rustic, intimate character of the
camp. There can be a fine line between modern
and historical when it comes to renovating
older structures, but Game and Fish came
to a happy medium with the camp's central
facility - the dining hall.
A new dining hall was built that also serves
as a classroom. The hall is the center of activity
for the camp. Taxidermy displayed in the hall
was donated, much of it from Kim Lutz of
Lander. A large painting above the fireplace,
donated by working group member Laney
Hicks of Crowheart, serves as the centerpiece
of the hall.
" The dining hall has been an incredible
space to not only have the camp participants
enjoy meals, but also for instructing indoors

and on the ample porch spaces, " said Ashley
Leonard, Game and Fish conservation
education coordinator.
Parker said feedback from campers and those
in the department about the camp renovations
has been " overwhelmingly positive. " One
camper echoed those sentiments.
" It had really nice cabins and the buildings
in general were cool, " said Ethan Dice of
Cheyenne, who attended the middle schoolaged boys camp in the summer of 2020.
No more major renovations are planned for
the camp. Parker said funding is being sought
to construct a small storage shop to store
equipment and provide the camp caretaker
to make equipment repairs.
" There is always room for improvement,
but I feel like we are off to a good start, " Parker
said.
- Robert Gagliardi is the associate editor of Wyoming
Wildlife.

Wyoming Wildlife | 15

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/Conservation-Education/Summer-Camps https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/Conservation-Education/Summer-Camps

April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2021