Outdoor Skills Network
The Outdoor Skills Network (OSN) is an extensive partnership of outdoor conservation organizations and experts. It is a one-stop resource for in the field, live hands-on events and camps that teach you about hunting, wildlife, fishing, shooting, trapping, conservation and to enjoy your harvested game meat. It’s a cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation program and the Hunting and Angling Heritage Workgroup, and is also supported by donations from Wildlife for Tomorrow’s Arizona Celebrity Wingshoot fundraiser. Learn more at: www.azgfd.gov/OutdoorSkills.
Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Summer Camp
The Arizona Game and Fish Department in partnership with Wildlife for Tomorrow offers a summer camp program for youth to enjoy the beauty of nature, experience wildlife and learn about Arizona's natural resources.The summer camp is held at the Hirsch Conservation Education Area. The Hirsch Conservation Education Area is located at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility in North Phoenix. This site was named after and is dedicated to Bob and Mary Hirsch, longtime Arizonans. It was Bob and Mary’s dream to have a place for youth to experience the magical wonders of nature. Whether this involved fishing, hunting, camping, boating, bird watching or other outdoor pursuits, they understood the importance nature played in shaping the lives of children.
For more information, visit https://www.wildologyaz.com/summercamp
Tres Rios Nature Festival
In the early 2000’s, spearheaded by Tice Supplee, the Department and the Foundation envisioned a westside-based nature festival that would expand the message of preserving Arizona’s wildlife to that growing area of our state. Following a negotiated Memorandum of Understanding and seed money provided by the Department, a group of WFT volunteers led by Heidi Vasiloff created the Tres Rios Nature Festival, now known as the Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival. From its humble beginnings in 2004, the Festival has grown to stand on its own two financial feet and has become tremendously popular. The event is held each March at the B&M Wildlife area on the Gila and Salt Rivers on Avondale Boulevard near Phoenix International Raceway. The Festival annually features educational booths and activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, birding, hiking, entertainment, food and outdoor fun. It has always been free to the public. The City of Avondale has emerged as the Festival’s most recent primary sponsor, and promises to continue to grow the Festival in conjunction with other community partners such as the City of Goodyear, Luke Air Force Base, Town of Buckeye and the Department.
For more information, visit www.avondaleaz.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/events/tres-rios-nature-festival
Mesquite Wildlife Oasis
The establishment of the Oasis follows Sempra Renewables’ acquisition of nearby agricultural land for water rights necessary for the Mesquite Power plant's operations. Maricopa County required that a portion of the undeveloped land be designated for conservation and educational purposes. In response, Sempra invested over $500,000 into creating this educational and wildlife habitat site, which has since welcomed thousands of school-aged children and adults. The Oasis features comprehensive information about local plant and animal life, focusing on habitat and water resources. This property is now owned by RWE, a renewable energy company based in Germany.
Oversight by Wildlife for Tomorrow ensures that the program continually serves dozens of schools and over 3,000 students annually, contributing significantly to the region’s educational landscape and fostering a deep understanding of Arizona’s unique ecological heritage.
For more information, visit https://www.wildologyaz.com/about
Arizona Scholastic Clay Target Program
Wildlife for Tomorrow was among the initial funding sources to provide shotguns used in the Department’s Scholastic Clay Target Program, a team-based youth development program that uses the shotgun sports of trap, skeet and sporting clays to instill life skills such as discipline, safety, teamwork, ethics, self-confidence and other life values in high-school aged youth throughout Arizona. More recently, WFT leveraged its non-profit status to successfully apply for a $900,000 grant from the Midway Foundation, which funds are being used to support SCTP teams and programs.
For more information, visit https://www.azgfd.com/shooting/scholastic/
Ben Avery Clay Target Center Events Facility
WFT recently served as beneficiary of remaining funds in the now-closed Phoenix Trap and Skeet Club (as well as San Diego Shotgun Sports Association) following a resolution of the boards. These funds were combined with unrestricted WFT funds to purchase a steel building and associated improvements in conjunction with the Arizona State Employees Credit Union to construct and open a fabulous new events center on the BACTC campus. Thanks to WFT and the hard work of BACTC volunteers such as Paul Doetsch, the days of sweaty events under canvas tents and eating hot dogs from a vending cart have been replaced with an air-conditioned events center with full food service capacity. WFT and the Arizona State Employees Credit Union has worked closely with the AGFD Commission under a separate Memorandum of Understanding to fund certain of the building components consistent with procurement law governing Commission assets such as the Clay Target Center.
For more information, visit https://www.azgfd.com/shooting/bactc/