Project Possum, a new program offered by a collaboration of New Zealand groups, is promoting possum trapping as a career path for area students.  The program would teach trapping methods and fur preparation and marketing of possum pelts.

Susan Karels, the council’s regional Enviroschools co-ordinator, says the training stems from twin desires to offer participants the chance to earn the NCEA credits, as well as create potential job prospects for young Northlanders

It is also a great opportunity to help control a pest which has a significant impact on the region’s environment.

While giving education credits to students, the program would also jumpstart a pilot project for some students interested in starting their own possum trapping business.

Mrs Karels says once the training is complete, Enviroschools Northland and several students from Te Kura Taumata o Panguru would begin a pilot programme that would see them set up a small business to trap local possums and sell their fur or skins.

The New Zealand Association for Environmental Education had already contributed to the pilot via the purchase of 20 humane possum traps worth about $400 which the students could use until they had paid for them through fur/skin sales.

Depending on the success of the pilot, it could be rolled out to other Northland schools, possibly as early as next year.

I’ve always admired New Zealanders in their management of natural resources.  They have been extremely successful raising and marketing red deer, promoting hunting and fishing for exotic and trophy species, and producing some of the best wool sheep in the world.  Now they’re finding ways to profit from exotic opossums, which are discarded as an essentially worthless commodity in many trapping circles.

Read the full story here.

The Youth Trapper Camp started in 2000, and has been a  huge success ever since.

Here’s some more basic info on the camp from the Montana Trappers Association:

Youth Trapper Camp – Who is YTC and What Does It Do?

First began as a tri-agency endeavor, the three-day camp which is held annually in the beautiful Bear Paw Mountains, south of Havre, Montana, has been incorporated in Montana as a non-profit educational organization.  The Internal Revenue Service has classified YTC as a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization which allows all contributions to be income tax deductible.

The annual camp has been held in the month of June, accommodations are semi-primitive, with attendees providing their own tents, campers, RV’s and personal items.  All meals, snacks, soft drinks and eating utensils are provided.

The camp is geared towards family participation.  Campers will attend classes on trapping methods, ethics, regulations, fur handling, health and safety.  Camp instructors come from the MTA education program, Montana 4-H program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Funding for YTC comes from camp fees, YTC Membership Gifts, Individual and corporate donations, participation in the ‘Albertson’s Community Partners Program’, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offers a $20 scholarship to the first 60 youth and YTC, Inc provides for the additional applicants who request help prior to April 15.

Who May Attend YTC

Any youth under the age of 18 years

Any youth 10 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult

Any youth regardless of their race, religion or nation origin

Youth do not have to be a member of the MTA or enrolled in the 4-H program

Youth with special needs must be accompanied by an adult

Any person over the age of 18 years, may attend as a camper, chaperon or volunteer

Family participation is encouraged

Attendees are selected on a first come – first accepted basis

First year participants will attend 9 classes dealing with trapping basics, conservation, regulations, ethics, furbearer identification, safety and health

Returning participants will receive more intense hands-on training

Purpose and Goals of YTC

Teach the proper care, management, preservation and utilization of furbearers and other North American wildlife

Develop, promote and support educational programs for the wise use, management and conservation of furbearers

Inform and educate the public to more completely understand the problems of the wise use of furbearers

Stimulate public interest in furbearers

Promote environmental education, including the wise use and conservation of furbearers

Operate an annual camp which will fulfill the goals of YTC, Inc and benefit the general public

More on the history of YTC can be found here.

Kansas is the second state to add an online trapper education course on TrapperEd.com as a replacement to the old mail correspondence course and an alternative to instructor-led courses that are taught in person.

All persons born after July 1, 1966 are required to take the course before harvesting furbearers on land in the state other than their own.

Illinois also offers a similar course, and more states are sure to follow.

For more information or to take the course, visit www.trappered.com.

Read more here.

It’s great to see successful programs like this that promote trapping for the next generation.  Here’s the press release:

GNWT Employee Receives National Award from the Fur Institute of Canada

R(16)463  - Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Fur institute of Canada (FIC) has recognized a Government of the Northwest Territories employee for his commitment to the trapping industry.The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment’s (ITI) Robert (Guy) Erasmus has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Jim Bourque Award. The FIC presents the award annually in recognition of an individual that reflects Bourque’s commitment to the sustainable use of resources, improved animal welfare, the development of Canada’s modern fur trade, the recognition of Aboriginal peoples’ cultures and the stewardship role that trappers play in the conservation and management of Canada’s wildlife.

Mr. Erasmus was nominated for his central role in the founding, development and implementation of ITI’s Take A Kid Trapping Program. This program began in 2002 and has been successfully implemented in all regions of the Northwest Territories, with nearly 1,500 youth taking part in the program in 2009/2010. Over 8,000 youth have enrolled in the program since its inception.

“Mr. Erasmus has done a remarkable job in promoting the traditional economy to NWT youth through the Take a Kid Trapping Program” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod. “His work has contributed greatly to traditional life skills development and to the NWT’s traditional economy, and I want to offer my congratulations to Mr. Erasmus on receiving this well-deserved honour.”

The award announcement was made at the 2010 FIC Annual Banquet in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The FIC annually recognizes outstanding individual achievements in the Canadian trapping industry with a variety of awards.

Through programs like the Take a Kid Trapping Program, ITI and the GNWT are working towards developing healthy, educated Northerners and safe, sustainable communities as envisioned in the 16th Legislative Assembly’s Northerners Working Together strategic vision.

For more information, contact:

Darren Campbell
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
867-920-8696

A Youth Trapping Camp is scheduled for over the Columbus Day weekend in western New York this fall. This first of its kind program for the northeast United States is sponsored by The New York State Trappers Association (NYSTA) in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) at DEC’s Camp Rushford in Alleghany County.

The Youth Trapping Camp will be held Oct. 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2010. Campers need to plan on arriving about supper time Friday night and stay until after lunch on Monday.

The NYSTA has designed this Youth Trapping Camp to extend and enhance the State’s current 8 hour long Trapper Education Class, which is required of all new trappers regardless of age. The program will allow for in-depth learning of the topics; history and ethics, types and correct uses of traps, disease and biology of management of fur bearers as well as the humane treatment of our naturally renewable resource. The DEC will issue permits to set traps and possess fur bearers for processing so youth will have the full experience of trapping. There will be an experienced trapping mentor for every one or two youth to insure close hands-on lessons.

This Youth Trapping Camp will be for 12-15 year-olds only. They do not have to have their Trappers Education certificate before the camp as there will be the chance to get it through the scheduled weekend events.
NYSTA is excited about offering this learning opportunity to our young people at a time when there are so many other activities being offered youth of this age and drawing them away from learning about the out-of-doors. There is a fee of $40.00 per student to cover the cost of food and supplies. By State policy there is no charge for instruction for the Trappers Education Class given by NYS volunteer instructors. There is a limit of 25 youth for this camp. NYSTA is also asking for donations to help defray the costs of putting on the Youth Trapping Camp.

The camp will be staffed by NYSTA members with DEC assistance where their expertise is better used. A few other states have similar programs and report them to be wonderful experiences for the young trappers.

Applications for the Youth Trapping Camp and any other information can be obtained from Pat Arnold at patriciaarno@gmail.com, Phone number 315-644-4643.

The Juneau Empire, newspaper for Alaska’s capitol city, published a recent article explaining ways pet owners can avoid problems with traps. The article highlights places to hike where trapping isn’t allowed, but the reality is that dog walkers can also avoid problems on trails that are open to trapping simply by keeping their pets on leash. Trappers and pet owners, please do your best to avoid pet catches, as these situations attract lots of attention and can shed a bad light on trapping.

The Alaska Trappers Association has put out a video entitled “Sharing Alaska’s Trails”, which helps educate pet owners on what to look for and avoid when walking dogs in areas where trapping takes place.  You can purchase a copy of the video or view the entire video free here.

The new online trapper education course is offered at www.trappered.com

All trappers, regardless of age, are encouraged to take the online course.  For more information, click here or go to trappered.com.