SAVE THE DATE! On Friday, March 22, 2013, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be hosting the popular Youth Day at the Outdoor Expo. In its fifth straight year, Youth Day is designed specifically for school groups and students and provides dozens of hands-on educational activities focusing on environmental education as well as a number of recreation activities to promote outdoor awareness, health and well-being. These include fishing, archery, geocaching, and wilderness safety.

All ages are welcome to attend. The diversity of activities ensures that all students will have a meaningful and memorable experience. It will run from 8:30am until 2:30pm. However, activities are open and participants can attend all or part of that time frame. Admission to the Youth Day is free.

Registration is required and will be available starting in December. However, we wanted to get the word out now to give you time to plan. So, mark your calendars. If you wish to be informed directly when registration becomes available, please email <a href="mailto:focuswild@azgfd.gov" target="_blank">focuswild@azgfd.gov</a>.

Do you want to attend Youth Day but your school or district doesn’t have the money? Well, you are in luck. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is now offering money to cover the costs of outdoor-related field trips through our Heritage grants program – and Youth Day qualifies! For more information about the grant program, check out this <a href="http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/documents/heritage/FW-2%20Outdoor%20Education%20FY-2013%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">PDF document</a>. Then, download a <a href="http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/documents/heritage/HG-1%20Outdoor%20Education%20Grant%20Application%202013.doc" target="_blank">Word version of the application</a>. For additional information visit <a href="http://www.azgfd.gov/heritage" target="_blank">http://www.azgfd.gov/heritage</a>. The application is very easy to complete but the process is competitive. And the deadline of October 1 is fast approaching. So don’t delay.