Basic Insect and Plant Ecology camp

View Photos: 2007 | 2008 | 2009

Mississippi State University’s Basic Insect and Plant Ecology camp, better known as Bug Camp, is the oldest residential entomology camp in the world. Two MSU departments sponsor the camp: the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. The camp is intergenerational, providing an opportunity for children as well as their parents, grandparents or other caregivers. Campers have the opportunity to learn about different aspects of entomology while enjoying the outdoors. Collecting trips are interspersed with briefings on medical entomology, insect photography, bee ecology and using Global Positioning Systems to identify insect collection sites. Staying overnight allows campers to collect bugs in the evening using black lights. Campers tour the insect rearing lab, the electron microscope lab and MSU’s entomological museum. Campers ages 10 and older are welcome to attend.

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Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Camp

View Photos: 2007 | 2008 | 2009

Young people and adults have opportunities to try a variety of high-interest outdoor sports through wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture camps offered by Mississippi State University. Campers will stay in MSU housing and will complete activities on campus and at the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Activities include boater safety, hunter education, wildlife briefings, river ecology and fish trapping, seining and electro-fishing, archery and bow fishing, tracking and telemetry, rifle, shotgun and muzzle-loader shooting, tomahawks, deer necropsy, GPS and scuba diving. Parents and grandparents can come to this camp as campers with their children. Teachers may also attend camp and receive continuing education units for their participation.

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Natural Resources Summer Camp

Sponsored and hosted by Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources, the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the camp offers high school students a hands-on experience in environmental stewardship and management, part of the broad field of natural resources.

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Wood Magic Science Fair

Sponsored and hosted by Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources, the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the camp offers high school students a hands-on experience in environmental stewardship and management, part of the broad field of natural resources.

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Wildlife and Fisheries Research and Educational Facilities

Educators and students are invited to schedule a tour of the world-class wildlife and fisheries research areas on the campus of Mississippi State.

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Other Outdoor Learning Opportunities

• Tara Wildlife
  a private wildlife area outside Vicksburg that hosts several youth camps focusing on outdoor sports and natural resource conservation.
• Coastal Science Camps
  firsthand experience with coastal ecosystems for students grades 4-12 via camps offered through the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center.
• Adopt-A-Stream
  opportunities to learn and apply knowledge about streams and watersheds in MS