eon wAsUis.U BON BU Ll eT N 19 
Youth Conservation School 
By J. W. Galbreath 
_ Dicector of the §.1.U. Workshop at 
Little Grassy Lake Campus, Summer 1963. 
1, What is the Youth Conservation Workshop? 
The workshop is a series of one-week sessions conducted by each of 
five state universities for classes of 30 to 40 high school students. These 
young people are selected by sponsoring organizations interested in 
better training of outstanding youths for leadership in the conservation 
movement in Illinois. 
Objectives: The Conservation Education Workshop hopes to inspire more 
young people in Illinois to become intelligent, dedicated conservationists. 
They will be taught to safe-guard and use wisely our natural resources — 
our soil, waters, forests, minerals, and wildlife. These youths will learn 
to appreciate the necessity of living in harmony with natural laws. 
2. History of the Youth Conservation Workshop: 
The program was originated in 1944 by the Illinois Department of 
Conservation. Two-week courses were provided for teachers selected 
by the County Superintendent of Schools, and for boys only, at the 
Conservation Training School at Lake Villa. From 1944 to 1949, students 
were selected through Conservation Essay Contests conducted by the 
County Superintendents. No charge was made for the 2-week sessions. 
Class enrollment was limited to 50 per session, and courses were 
offered through the entire summer. 
The program, developed by the Educational Supervisor, included pre- 
sentations by technicians from the various Divisions of the Conservation 
Department and State Natural History Survey. Two major program 
changes were made in 1950. The sessions were shortened to one week 
each, allowing 4 classes per season, and doubling the enrollment. 
Another change was the introduction of the “Sponsor Plan,’ whereby 
such organizatioins as Garden Clubs, Sportmen’s Clubs, the Federation 
of Women’s Clubs, Kiwanis, Rotarians, Soil Conservation Districts, 
Future Farmers of America, and other groups, were offered the op- 
portunity of selecting students to attend the training sessions. The spon- 
sor agreed to pay $15.00 for each student selected. 
The program was shifted to the Springfield 4-H Building at the Fair- 
grounds in 1954. Here one-week sessions were offered at a cost of 
$20.00 per student. The possible enrollment rose to 400. Next, in place of 
the one-week course at the Springfield Fairgrounds, a new program was 
established in 1960 at five Illinois universities. Each class was limited 
to 40 students, and the tuition fee was changed to $25.00. This fee was 
to be paid directly to the University selected. 
Present Status: As a result of an agreement in 1960 between the De- 
partment of Conservation, representatives from five State Universities, 
and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Conservation Education 
Program became a cooperative effort. The Director of Conservation 
Education provides all publicity. Each organization contributes to a 
master plan of operation, course content, resource materials and per- 
sonnel. Each university is responsible for selecting its own Director, 
facilities for housing and feeding the students, recreational facilities, 
and transportation for field trips. The Director is responsible for plan- 
