The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will offer two 3-day Youth Backcountry Camps as a part of their 2008 summer trail and educational programs July 8-10, 2008 and July 21-23, 2008. These camps will engage youth from the ages of 13 to 18 on trail operations and trail use.

Participants will get their hands dirty as they will engage in a trail building project, supervised by qualified and experienced Tahoe Rim Trail crew leaders. Through this project, participants will be able to identify and properly use tools, as well as take part in trail route scouting and flagging.

In addition to trail work, participants will be educated on the environment of Lake Tahoe and minimum impact recreation. Several topics to be incorporated into both camps are map and compass orienteering, Leave No Trace, wildlife identification, flora and fauna identification, and astronomy.

Each camp has the capacity for 15 students and will be fully supported by TRTA staff, hike leaders, cooks and crew leaders. The cost for the program is $50 (scholarships are available). Participants will be provided with all necessary camping gear for the program. All participants will need are hiking clothes, hiking boots, and a passion for the outdoors.

For more information and to sign-up for this exciting new program in beautiful Lake Tahoe, contact Jill Falman at jillf@tahoerimtrail.org or call 775.298.0239. Information is also available on the website: http://www.tahoerimtrail.org">www.tahoerimtrail.org.