CHENANGO – Winter may be just getting started, but recruiters for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) summer camp program are already busy encouraging kids throughout the area to think about their summer plans.

The Federated Sportsman Clubs of Chenango County (or the Federation) is once again looking for willing and eager kids between the ages of 11 and 17 to attend one of the DEC summer camps free of charge.

Each year, the Federation presents a scholarship to as many as 15 students to attend a DEC camp. Named for the late Chenango County sportsman and former Evening Sun outdoors columnist Bob McNitt, the scholarship gives kids the chance to get up and get out during those summer months when they’re away from school.

The Federation says it’s proud of the “Kids to Camp Scholarship Program” which has been in effect for many years and is completely supported by grants from the Chenango County chapter of Friends of the NRA and funding projects including the annual deer hide collections.

The Federation has been able to send dozens of students to DEC camp over the years and looks to continue that tradition again in 2016.