October 2024 - The WYldlife Fund

At the base of the Gros Ventre Mountains in western Wyoming, 17 boys recently spent a week immersed in nature, honing their outdoor skills and building leadership abilities. Part of the Inspire a Kid initiative, this free summer camp is designed for youth who might not otherwise have access to Wyoming’s wild spaces. Over the course of a week, campers engage in fly fishing, horseback riding, and even hauling hay bales—all while learning the importance of conservation.

For kids like 13-year-old Colten Christianson and 12-year-old Zach Cortez, the camp provides a thrilling blend of adventure and outdoor learning. Whether taking a dip in the icy sluice box to wake up or bonding over early-morning hot chocolate, their days are filled with teamwork and exploration. “It’s way better than coffee,” Cortez quips after an invigorating sluice shower.

But it’s not all fun and games. As the campers move hay bales or gather around the campfire, they also gain a deeper appreciation for Wyoming’s public lands, which cover more than half of the state. Many, like 15-year-old William Johnston from Newark, New Jersey, leave the camp with a newfound love for the outdoors—and some even consider future careers in conservation.

Chris McBarnes, who leads the camp, hopes this experience helps keep Wyoming’s youth connected to the state. With its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, Wyoming needs the next generation of leaders to safeguard its natural beauty and tackle ongoing conservation challenges.

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In a state full of passionate conservationists and wildlife lovers, two were individually honored on the evening of Friday September 13th in Laramie. With the sun shining down on the University of Wyoming’s Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, supporters gathered inside to celebrate Charles Preston and Taylor Phillips as they each received recognition for their work in supporting biodiversity conservation, appreciation, and understanding in The Cowboy State.

UW’s Biodiversity Institute proudly presented Phillips with the Contributions to Biodiversity Conservation Award in large part due to his work establishing WYldlife for Tomorrow – a signature program of The WYldlife Fund which, in turn, is the nonprofit partner to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Taylor started WYldlife for Tomorrow in 2021 with the goal of inspiring all that benefit from Wyoming’s recreation and travel and tourism economy – largely driven by the state’s public lands and abundant wildlife – to get involved in supporting wildlife conservation efforts statewide. To date, WYldlife For Tomorrow has raised more than $400,000 through private donations and business partnerships and collaborations. This money has gone on to support wildlife highway crossings, habitat restoration, and research through management by the WYldlife Fund and in support of Wyoming Game and Fish. As Phillips’ initiative continues to grow, state conservation and biodiversity research projects are sure to grow right along with it.

However, Taylor will be the first to tell you that this award would not be possible without the support of WYldlife For Tomorrow’s many generous donors. It takes a village to achieve ambitious statewide conservation goals, and the organization’s partners are an absolutely critical piece of the puzzle.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been selected for this award. The work of WYldlife For Tomorrow would not have been possible without all of the support that the program and I have received from across the state,” says Phillips. “I feel like we are just getting started with the work of developing an additional funding mechanism to support wildlife.”

The Biodiversity Science and Conservation Awards are meant to “honor Wyoming-ites who have changed the landscape of conservation biology and biodiversity science,” notes Brett Addis – Associate Director of UW’s Biodiversity Institute.

In choosing Phillips from a large pool of other nominees Addis adds that “Taylor stood out because his approach to conservation is so innovative. Blending tourism with conservation is not like anything we’ve seen or awarded before.”

Collaboration and innovation will surely be critical for the future of conservation in The Cowboy State. However, with the dedicated work being led by folks like Phillips – and support from donors and partners alike – the future looks bright for wild Wyoming.

Wyoming summer camp tackles “brain drain” with nature

University of Wyoming Recognizes Taylor Phillips – WYldlife Fund Board Member – with Conservation Award