The youth council is comprised of 20 youth from across Pennsylvania. They meet to discuss strategies to engage and educate youth across the Commonwealth in the conservation of Pennsylvania’s natural resources, as well as to convey related recommendations to the governor.

Education, work, and fun are to be incorporated into every youth council meeting, and the “fun” component of this meeting was a five stand shoot hosted by the Liberty Township Sportsmen’s Club.

At this particular meeting the group heard from two guest speakers.

Allyson Brownlee Muth, Penn State University Interim Director of the Center for Private Forests and Assistant Research Professor of Private Forests Management, presented on Private Forest Landowners and the challenges the agency faces when trying to engage with this demographic.

PHOTO PROVIDED The group receives range and safety instructions.

A second presentation was given by Sara Mueller, MS Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences at Penn State University, on the Round Goby, an invasive species in the Great Lakes region of North America, with a rapidly expanding range. Round Gobies are beginning to enter the river drainages of the Great Lakes.

Much of the council’s recent focus has been on issues such as Senate Bill 147, which permits additional hunting on three Sundays per calendar year, Chronic Wasting Disease, and Invasive Species. The consensus of the council is to continue educating on CWD and start concentrating on the Round Gobie.

The council would like to thank Liberty Township Sportsmen’s Club, shooting instructors Lenny Unger and Steve Phoenix, and president Gary Shuey. Also thank you to Allyson Brownlee Muth and Sara Mueller.

PHOTO PROVIDED From left to right: Tony Bertolino, Emma Olney, Laurie Enders, Elizabeth Bruner, Rachel Olver, Benjamin Wolf, Emery Gunsallus.