Camp Rocky 2024
Every year the board supports and promotes area youth to attend Camp Rocky. Bent CD awards Camp Rocky Scholarships in May/June and the camp is held in July. This year's dates were July 7-12th 2024.
Campers get to enjoy 5 nights of action packed fun and learning. Campers are able to choose one of four natural resource groups that they would like to study: Soil and Water Science, Rangeland Management, Fish and Wildlife Science and Forestry Management. The camp is located in Divide, CO.
The district sent one returning individual to Camp Rocky, Blake Elam and one new camper, Addison Elam. Blake helped serve as one of the youth counselors and enjoyed meeting the new kids and enjoyed catching up with returning campers. Addison enjoyed learning about conservation and participated in various activities. Both when asked if they would return said yes without a doubt. Blake and Addison attended the board meeting in August to personally thank the board for the opportunity to attend Camp Rocky. It has provided ideas of potential careers and provided lasting friendships. Please be on the lookout for next years dates and registration. The district would love to send more kids to this great camp!
2024 Camp Rocky students and staff
This years two attendees that the district sponsored: Addison Elam and Blake Elam
2025 Dates:
July 6-11th
National Stewardship Week-
April 28th thru May 5th 2024
Bent Conservation District celebrated National Stewardship Week by going to the local elementary school classrooms. First grade students from McClave Elementary and Kindergarten students from Las Animas Elementary schools listened to a story about the life cycle of a seed. The students were then given pots, soil and seeds to plant and watch grow into flowers. Students were also able to "dig" into a special treat of dirt and worms (chocolate sandwich cookies, chocolate pudding and gummy worms, that is).
Pictured below: Kindergarten classes from Las Animas Elementary School.
Pictured below: 1st Grade class from McClave Elementary School.
2024 Scholarship Program
Each year Bent Conservation District offers scholarships to area
graduating seniors. The scholarships are to recognize outstanding
student leadership, community service, and to promote higher
education in agriculture related fields of study. All high school seniors
who reside within the Bent Conservation District and plan to pursue a
career in an agriculture related field are eligible and encouraged to apply.
For 2024, three Seniors met the criteria and were awarded scholarships:
Blake Elam, son of Brandon Elam and Ashley Grasser, a McClave High School Graduate. He plans to pursue a journalism degree.
Erin Tempel, daughter of Curtis and Cathy Tempel, a Lamar High School Graduate. She plans to pursue a degree in Animal Science.
Karson Roesch, son of Kerry and Becky Roesch, a McClave High School Graduate. He plans to pursue a degree in Agriculture Business.
Congratulations and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Blake Elam
Erin Tempel
Karson Roesch
Poster Contest
Each year, we hold a poster contest for area students. The top three posters from each school are awarded money from the Bent Conservation District.
Congratulations to our Poster winners!
2023 Poster Contest Theme
Las Animas Elementary 5th Grade Winners
In order from left to right:
1st Place receiving $50- Hayden Hall, 2nd Place receiving $30- Caleb Dockter, 3rd Place receiving $20- Amaya Eddings
1st Place Poster
2nd Place Poster
3rd Place Poster
McClave Elementary 5th Grade Winners
In order from left to right:
1st Place receiving $50-Scarlett Florez, 2nd Place receiving $30- Not pictured: Joseph Gallegos, 3rd Place receiving $20- Hazel Hemphill