LDHS freshman spreads awareness about wildlife

The Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA) is a nonprofit organization that aims to teach the nation’s youth about the nature around them. Samantha Gallick, a student of the WLA, shares her great experience with the program.

The Wildlife Leadership Academy helps educate the next generation of conservation ambassadors. – Photo by the Wildlife Leadership Academy

WLA is a camp that breaks its members up into groups. “There’s an animal for each group,” says Gallick, recalling her time at the summer camp. “Mine was Ursid, so we focused on bears for the majority of the camp.” Gallick explains how COVID changed the WLA camp. Gallick told about her experience listening to different talks from people in order to learn about science, nature, and wildlife. The camp involves a lot of exploration through Lock Haven’s forests and streams.

Lock Haven’s beautiful wilderness provides a perfect setting for a nature-related camp. – Photo by the Wildlife Leadership Academy

Gallick explains that she loves the program now but would never have gotten interested in it if not for one of her middle school teachers. “Mrs. Bigler nominated me,” Gallick says. Since August 15th, Gallick has been a proud member of the WLA. She believes that other students could also benefit from joining the WLA and recommends it to anyone who might have an interest. “It was a very good experience,” she says. Gallick talks about some of her favorite memories and activities from the camp, like touching a black bear, making turkey callers, and completing dissections. The camp happens for a week in August and three days in November in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

Teens involved in the WLA are nominated by people in their lives who believe in their ability to excel in leadership skills and conservation of wildlife. – Photo by the Wildlife Leadership Academy

“After you’re done in the Academy, you do this thing called Outreach,” Gallick explains. “You have to do these different activities to prove what you know…and become a conservation ambassador.” In order to become a conservation ambassador, a WLA student must earn points by completing various tasks of their choice that add up to 500 points within a six-month period. “For example, if you teach a lesson to younger students, that’s twenty points,” says Gallick. Gallick taught first grade students at Londonderry Elementary about birds to earn some of her points. “It’s definitely fun and it gives you a chance to talk to your community.” Gallick hopes that other students will take the time to learn about the wildlife and nature around them as it has been a very educational and exciting experience for her.

Gallick teaches first graders about her favorite animal, birds. – Photo by Stacy Gallick