A Tarkington teen recently participated in the Youth Game Warden Camp hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Katie Bortz, daughter of Liberty County Pct. 5 Deputy Constable Brian Bortz and wife, Mindy, was one of 16 youths picked for the program.
During the three-day camp, held in Chambers County, the youth game wardens learned about waterfowl identification and regulations, reptile and amphibian identification and illicit trade, fish identification and regulations, fishing and hunting compliance checks, deer decoy operations and K9 use in conservation law enforcement.
The youths enjoyed meeting cast members of Lone Star Law, a TV show that airs on Animal Planet and follows the lives of Texas game wardens. At the end of the camp, the youth game wardens received a certificate of achievement showing they had successfully completed the program.
The camp is hosted annually with the next being held in Summer 2020. Applicants must be 14-18 years old and have an interest in the duties of a conservation law enforcement officer. The camp costs $100, which includes course materials, hat, T-shirt, lunch, drinks and snacks. Some scholarship opportunities are available.
Tarkington teen Katie Bortz met Game Warden Dustin Dockery during a Youth Game Warden Camp in June in Chambers County. Dockery is featured on Animal Planet’s Lone Star Law. 