The Vice President of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Carl Lindsley, is on a mission. He has been writing letters to Albany, contacting local politicians, and working diligently for months to raise awareness and garner political will in support of opening the NYS DEC Educational Camp in DeBruce for this upcoming season.

Let me preface my remarks in this week’s column by making everyone aware that I am not an impartial reporter on the subject. For years I have taught Hunter Education Program (HEP) courses at the DEC Summer Camps (several times with Carl).

In addition to regularly teaching at Camp DeBruce, I have even traveled to the Adirondack Park and taught courses at Camp Pack Forest and Camp Colby so that the young folks there would not be disappointed by cancellations when local instructors in those areas were not available to teach.

Camp DeBruce is an amazing place for young folks to spend a week during the summer. In a world where the vast majority of folks reading a sportsman column like this will probably agree that most of our youth spend far too much time engaged with electronic media (computers, cell phones and videogames), it’s a chance to get outdoors and go on hikes, camp overnight in the woods, go fishing, have campfires (complete with S’mores), etc., etc. It is indeed truly amazing.

Camp DeBruce is the oldest conservation education camp in the state, having been acquired in the 1940s. It is situated on over 300 acres of the Catskill Forest Preserve and is within walking distance of the famous Willowemoc trout stream. It is also near the Catskill Fish Hatchery.

Getting back to Carl Lindsley’s mission, Camp DeBruce has not been able to open for the past two years. There are two primary reasons. The first and biggest one is a lack of staff. The second is that the camp is in need of some repairs. 

There is some good news. Thanks to the efforts of Carl and others, and a lot of effort and work by the DEC, some money has been allocated for the basic needed repairs to get the camp open and it is my understanding that work may have already begun or will begin very soon.

The biggest problem, lack of staff, is a harder nut to crack. DeBruce will need camp directors, counselors, a medical director (can be an EMT) and a cook, among others. It’s a great opportunity for someone that has the summer off (college students, school teachers, etc.) and can help out. For some reason, the cook position seems to be one of the hardest to fill.

 The kids don’t need Chateaubriand (they are quite happy with things like cheeseburgers and potato salad or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch). If you know someone that can cook some wholesome meals for the camp, please have him or her apply. The list of requirements for the various positions is on the DEC website.

I want to thank everyone that can help out. The camps are simply amazing and unless you’ve been there, it is hard to understand the enthusiasm and joy that the young folks experience. It truly is a wonderful time.

Every year the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County sends many youth to the camps. Please join with us to help support opening Camp DeBruce this season, and enjoy the outdoors!