July 10 to 12. Illipah Reservoir, east of Ely. Sage flats, a cold reservoir, and a camp full of kids who came to learn how to hunt, fish and trap.
WHIN ran the expo with the Nevada Trappers Association (NVTA). More than 200 people showed up, over 100 of them kids. They rotated through stations all weekend: shotgun, rifle range, bird dogs working the sage, retriever demos at the water, trapping and fur handling, and fishing. Some kids skinned their first raccoon. Kids who earned it took home a gun.
A tornado ripped through camp and flattened three canopies. The crew stood them back up and kept going.
Volunteers and instructors came from NVTA, WHIN, and friends across Nevada. Meadow Valley Wildlife Unlimited covered the shirts. NDOW was there too.
Why it matters: the next generation of hunters and anglers is the next generation of conservationists. Kids who learn to read sign, handle a gun safely, and respect a fur are the ones who will build guzzlers and band ducks twenty years from now.
This is conservation with calluses. We start them young.
WHIN is a volunteer-run Nevada conservation nonprofit. Every dollar stays in Nevada. Join at whinlv.org/membership. Donate at whinlv.org/donation. Want in on the next one? Email Whin@whinlv.org or call 702-449-2560.