NRCC Testimonials 2026

 I absolutely loved my time at the Natural Resources Career Camp, but to be honest, the drive up to Accident was completely nerve wracking. Through my anxiety about my first sleep away camp experience, I had convinced myself that I would completely dislike camp. In retrospect, how I reacted to the anticipation was a shame. I wish I had kept a more open mind about how camp would be because this was one of the most educational weeks of my life. It did not take me long to realize I loved camp. The property was beautiful, the advisors were kind and inviting, and my fellow campers were incredibly intelligent. It was refreshing to be in an environment with people my age who had the same interests as me. Each day had something new in store which created excitement among everyone, even the counselors. I particularly enjoyed collecting plot data. It was therapeutic to not only be outside collecting data, but my group started to have a rhythm with data collection the more we did it. I was drawn to the organization of the task and how everything fell into place the more information we received. I loved learning about the different careers and possibilities within natural resources. Speaking with specialists from many different backgrounds and careers was inspiring, because learning the processes of each career taught me that it takes time putting effort into things you love in order to be great. Though I’m still unsure about a specific career I would like to pursue, career and college night helped me broaden my horizons with academics and beyond. Before coming to camp I felt like I had to choose a major that was cut and dry and limited me to a box of careers, but this camp made me realize that it’s okay to find your way little by little. It’s okay to explore different clubs, change your major, and just really discover what you truly want for yourself after school. My time at NRCC has inspired me to not be afraid to branch out and experiment. 

NRCC Camper - 2026

 My experience at The Natural Resources Career Camp was one of the best of my life. After being a part of the Environthon team at my high school I discovered the camp and immediately signed up. It was my first sleep-away camp and I was a little nervous about being away from home but the camp directors and counselors made me feel very safe and comfortable. They kept us so busy that I didn't have time to think about missing home. I was having so much fun. It’s hard to pick a favorite activity because so many of them were so amazing. The Scales n’ Tales program did not disappoint and reminded me of my love for reptiles and amphibians. Getting to hold the tiger salamander was for sure a highlight of the week. Putting waders on for the first time and wading through the creek at the park was definitely an exciting experience. I also enjoyed the tree climbing. I think the thing I loved learning about the most was wildlife management and anything to do with animals, such as bats and bears. It was also very interesting to learn about silviculture, something I had very little knowledge of. One of my favorite parts of each day was our hour of recreation time. Getting to hike down to the creek with my new friends and search for salamanders or play soccer in the field by the middle school was amazing. Having the opportunity to walk the trails and bird watch and find different types of mushrooms was also one of the things I liked the most. The camp directors were very good at sticking to the schedule and having a good balance of outside activities and indoor activities each day. I learned so much and got so much valuable advice from professionals in their fields that I will carry with me as I graduate high school and start college. When I signed up for the camp I was most interested in a career in wildlife biology and conservation. This camp not only solidified my goal of working in that field but sparked more passion and excitement for the future. 

NRCC Camper - 2026

 The NRCC was an incredibly motivational and exciting experience for me that I am so glad I got the chance to enjoy. It was my first time at a sleepaway camp, so I was very nervous, but I had a great time with my group, as they were not only great workers but very fun people to be around. I enjoyed being able to learn about the different animals we have here in Maryland, like bears, bats, moths, reptiles, and more. I really enjoyed how a lot of the learning we did was more hands-on, like getting to touch different reptiles and going outside to hear owls and look for moths. Another thing I was really interested to learn about was different ways to keep a forest healthy, like thinning or clear cuts, which I would have assumed before were bad for the forest. It was great to learn about how one could help an ecosystem thrive and also learn skills that could be applied to help increase biodiversity, like how we practiced researching a species and mapping out a plan to help that species prosper. The variety of activities we got to do was also great, like electrofishing and tree climbing, as I liked to be able to talk to the different professionals and learn about how they got to where they are. This also helped me gain more insight into what I want to do in the future. I realized I don’t want to be out chopping trees or fishing or being a park ranger, and that environmental science rather than forestry is likely a better field for me. It helped me discover that I would enjoy more lab work or influencing policy to try and help with the climate crisis, as this is something that I am very passionate about. I am so glad I got to go to this camp as it is one of the best experiences I have ever had, and I would encourage anyone to take this opportunity as well. 

NRCC Camper - 2026