If hands-on lessons from fishing pro Tom Mann, Jr., angling tips from Georgia's own O'Neill Williams and a show-off-your-skills fishing tournament sounds like a blast, then the Georgia Wildlife Federation's (GWF) first annual Fishing and Conservation Camp is the camp for you.

Only twenty students, ages 16-18, will be selected to participate in the 2007 Youth Fishing and Conservation camp to be held June 5-9 at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) in Mansfield. Gather your thoughts into an essay on what fishing and conservation mean to you, send in your application and you could be one of the chosen few.

Camp sponsors include the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), FLW Outdoors, Georgia Power, TBF Federation, B&B Marine, G3 Boats and the Georgia Chapter of AFS (American Fisheries Society).

The goal for the camp is to provide participants with an increased knowledge of Georgia bass angling and the aquatic ecosystems necessary to support the state's warm water fisheries, and to highlight the scientific management techniques used to support a sustainable fishery for future generations.

To be considered, registrants should send in applications by April 21.

Applications should include a one page essay on what fishing and conservation mean to you, a letter of recommendation from a non-family member and a letter from your school stating that you are maintaining at least a "C" average.

A panel of judges will sift through applications to determine the selected 20 participants who will be notified by mail of their acceptance.

The cost for the entire four-day camp is $125 per student. Upon receipt of acceptance, participants must mail the fee, along with all pertinent information forms in order to participate.

Applications can be mailed to: Youth Fishing/Conservation Camp, Georgia Wildlife Federation, 11600 Hazelbrand Road, Covington, Ga. 30014.

For more information or for a registration brochure, contact Robert Phillips of GWF at (770) 787-7887 or at rphillips@gwf.org.