UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- From the green, tree-covered hills of Pennsylvania, four 4-H youth journeyed to New Mexico to compete recently in the 2003 4-H National Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Contest in the hot, flat Chihuahuan Desert.

To win a spot on the Keystone State team, the youth placed among the top four at the state contest held last spring. This year, three of the four team members were from McKean County: Lisa Dunkerton, Sunny Frey and Bethany Kibble are all members of the 4-H Sewing Suzies, Junior Outdoorsmen and McKean County Council. The fourth team member was senior Katie Brunecz of Warren County. Ann Dunkerton of McKean County and Pam Snook of Clinton County were the team coaches who accompanied the girls.

As Pennsylvania was experiencing a summer of torrential rains, the girls learned about management of livestock and wildlife where there is little or no rainfall. Contestants individually judged the suitability of habitat for wildlife species through on-site evaluation and aerial photographs. As teams, they wrote urban and rural wildlife management plans for nine different wildlife species.

The Pennsylvania team placed 10th overall, with a strong showing in its rural management plan. Alabama's team placed first, followed by Virginia and Georgia. Following the contest, participants enjoyed a trip to White Sands National Monument and a gondola ride/hike on Sierra Blanca (11,400 feet above sea level) near Ruidoso, N.M.

The national contest is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, International Paper, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Rifle Association. The Pennsylvania Game Commission paid travel costs for the Pennsylvania team and the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association also contributed to defray team members' expenses.

The wildlife habitat evaluation contest is part of a 4-H youth natural resource program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to junior and senior level youth (ages 8-19) . The contest won the 1996 Wildlife Society's Conservation Education Award. The Wildlife Society is the professional organization that certifies wildlife biologists worldwide.

"The goal of the habitat contest is to teach our nation's youth how to be wise stewards of our wildlife and fisheries resources," says Jon Boren, co-chair of this year's event.

"While the competition is important, it is not the sole focus of the program," adds Summer Eaton, co-chair and a past individual national champion of the contest. "The kids are exposed to field trips and fun activities. These events help participants to develop critical speaking and thinking skills and learn how to work as a team. The kids are given real-world situations and work together to provide solutions to natural resource problems that managers face."

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Contact:

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