American Rivers is a national leader in river conservation, working for over 50 years to protect and restore free-flowing rivers through advocacy, policy, and hands-on restoration. Their dam removal program is the largest and most experienced in the country, with more than 2,100 projects influenced to date. Focused on restoring natural river systems and improving ecological health, American Rivers aims to remove 30,000 outdated dams nationwide by 2050 to reconnect habitat, enhance public safety, and build climate resilience.

Pennsylvania Dam Removal Program

With CFCF’s support, American Rivers is accelerating the removal of obsolete dams in Pennsylvania’s upper Ohio and Susquehanna River basins. The grant contributes to design, permitting, construction oversight, and materials for projects scheduled in 2025. Benefits include opening 168+ stream miles for trout and imperiled species, improving water quality, stabilizing stream temperatures, reducing flood risks, and enhancing recreational access. The investment also helps unlock federal infrastructure funding and offers strong financial leverage for broader restoration goals.

ASGA is a national coalition of fishing guides, conservation-minded anglers, and marine advocates working to promote sustainable fisheries through science-driven policy and public engagement. Known for its success in campaigns around striped bass, redfish, and false albacore, ASGA uses grassroots momentum and expert partnerships to advance responsible marine conservation and amplify the voice of recreational anglers at all levels of governance.

Crevalle Jack Population Assessment Project

With support from CFCF, ASGA is launching a multi-year study of Crevalle Jack populations using angler-led tagging and collaborative research with Florida International University and Mississippi State. The project deploys acoustic and spaghetti tags, stable isotope sampling, and stock assessment models to better understand movement patterns and spawning habitats. CFCF funding covers tagging gear, guide training, and early-stage analysis—laying the groundwork for improved science, outreach, and future fishery protections across the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

ASF is a leading North American conservation organization dedicated to restoring and protecting wild Atlantic salmon and their habitats. With offices in Canada and the U.S., ASF conducts cutting-edge science, policy advocacy, and collaborative conservation across the salmon’s life cycle—from headwaters to the high seas. Their new “Wild Salmon Watersheds” program is a generational initiative designed to protect high-quality river systems and ensure long-term climate resilience for salmon and cold-water ecosystems.

Nepisiguit River Smolt Monitoring Project

CFCF supports ASF’s monitoring of juvenile Atlantic salmon (smolt) on the Nepisiguit River in New Brunswick, part of its broader Wild Salmon Watersheds program. Grant funds help operate a rotary screw trap (“smolt wheel”) used to estimate salmon smolt output over a three-year period. The data informs freshwater productivity, habitat restoration needs, and long-term river management. The project integrates Indigenous knowledge, community science, and public outreach—laying the foundation for long-term salmon conservation across Eastern Canada.

Delta Waterfowl is a century-old conservation organization focused on duck production and the future of waterfowl hunting across North America. Grounded in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Delta combines research, habitat initiatives, and advocacy to support both waterfowl populations and the hunting community. Its innovative programs blend scientific insight with hunter engagement to ensure long-term sustainability of wetlands and wildlife.

University Hunting Program (UHP)

CFCF supports Delta’s University Hunting Program, which introduces non-hunting wildlife biology students to ethical hunting practices through classroom education, hunter safety training, shooting instruction, and a mentored waterfowl hunt. In 2024, UHP will be delivered at 125 universities, including Cornell and SUNY-ESF. The program is designed to shape future conservation professionals who understand the ecological and cultural value of hunting, with follow-up data showing strong retention and advocacy among participants

Located on 4,500 acres of conserved land in Montana’s Madison Range, Jack Creek Preserve Foundation connects youth with nature through conservation education, hunting heritage, and outdoor skills. Founded by a former Camp Fire Club member, JCPF serves as both a wildlife corridor and a living classroom, offering immersive outdoor learning in partnership with agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and sportsmen’s groups such as Pope & Young.

Outdoor & Archery Skills Camps

CFCF supports JCPF’s “Inspiring Future Conservationists” initiative, which hosts three annual summer camps—two Outdoor Skills Camps and one Archery Skills Camp—for youth ages 11–16. Campers learn fly fishing, elk ecology, wildlife tracking, and ethical bowhunting, with opportunities to earn bowhunter certification. CFCF funding provides archery gear, educational supplies, and camper scholarships, helping JCPF expand capacity, deepen conservation content, and deliver over 12,000 youth education hours annually.

The NCLI is a premier leadership development program for rising and established professionals across the North American conservation community. Operating under the umbrella of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, NCLI cultivates collaborative, visionary leadership across agencies, NGOs, and tribal organizations. Alumni include top conservation executives, wildlife professionals, and policy influencers working at the intersection of science, governance, and stewardship.

Sponsorship of the 18th NCLI Cohort

CFCF provides targeted support for the 18th NCLI Cohort, helping to ensure broad participation and financial sustainability of the program. The grant advances CFCA’s mission by investing in future leaders who shape science-based wildlife policy, habitat management, and conservation ethics. CFCF’s sponsorship visibly associates its brand with high-impact leadership, reinforces its role in national conservation dialogue, and promotes ethical hunting values through strategic influence.

New York Outdoors Women, Inc. is a nonprofit partner to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, focused on delivering hands-on outdoor skills programs to women across the state. Through the nationally recognized Becoming an Outdoors-Woman™ initiative, the group helps women of all backgrounds explore hunting, fishing, and nature-based recreation in supportive, skill-building environments. BOW workshops have empowered thousands of women since the early 1990s to gain confidence and competence in the outdoors.

BOW Program Workshop Fee Stabilization

CFCF provides multi-year funding to help stabilize registration fees for BOW workshops amid rising costs for venues, insurance, meals, and equipment. By offsetting operating expenses, the grant ensures access remains affordable for financially constrained women, including single parents, veterans, and underserved communities. Funds also support instructor needs, scholarship efforts, and long-term sustainability through enhanced fundraising and donor outreach.

The DEC is New York’s principal agency for natural resource management, overseeing wildlife conservation, environmental protection, and public access initiatives statewide. With expertise in species monitoring, habitat stewardship, and conflict resolution, DEC plays a key leadership role in collaborative conservation throughout the Northeast. The agency also hosts technical exchanges and symposia that advance cross-jurisdictional management of shared wildlife species.

Eastern Black Bear Workshop Sponsorship

CFCF supports DEC’s hosting of the 2025 Eastern Black Bear Workshop in Lake Placid, NY—returning the biennial event to its original home state. The workshop brings together over 80 professionals from agencies, universities, and NGOs across North America to exchange strategies for black bear management and human-wildlife conflict resolution. CFCF’s sponsorship offsets registration fees, making the event more accessible to working professionals and expanding its reach and impact.

The NRA Foundation is the charitable arm of the National Rifle Association, supporting a range of programs that promote firearm safety, marksmanship, and outdoor education. Among its longest-running initiatives is the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), established in 1986 to provide hunter education graduates under 18 with a platform to develop advanced skills in hunting and conservation. YHEC emphasizes safe, ethical hunting practices while encouraging responsibility, leadership, and respect for nature.

Youth Hunter Education Challenge Program

CFCF supports the nationwide YHEC program, which hosts events that simulate real-world hunting scenarios, including archery, rifle, shotgun, orienteering, wildlife ID, and safety challenges. Grant funding helps offset costs for materials, training, travel, and outreach—keeping participation affordable for young hunters. Each year, over 3,500 youth compete in local and regional events, fostering a new generation of conservation-minded sportsmen and women.

RGS & AWS are nonprofit conservation organizations focused on creating healthy forest habitats for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other wildlife. Their approach blends science-based forestry with strategic partnerships across public and private lands. Through their “Model of Working Forests,” they promote sustainable forest management that benefits wildlife, supports local economies, and engages the sporting community.

Northeast Forest Conservation Initiative

With CFCF support, RGS & AWS are building a forest conservation network across the Northeast to reverse steep declines in grouse and woodcock populations. Funding helps staff a Regional Forest Conservation Director who leads large-scale efforts to create diverse, young forest habitats through the Dynamic Forest Restoration Block model. The initiative emphasizes collaboration, habitat science, and public outreach to restore forest health and biodiversity.

SUNY-ESF is a premier public institution focused on natural resources, ecology, and environmental leadership. Home to the Camp Fire Conservation Fund Professorship in Wildlife Conservation, the college partners with Indigenous nations, federal agencies, and conservation nonprofits to advance science-based management of wildlife and ecosystems. Its research and graduate training programs play a pivotal role in addressing emerging conservation challenges.

Camp Fire Conservation Fund Professorship

CFCF provides endowed support for the Professorship in Wildlife Conservation at SUNY-ESF, held by Dr. Joshua Millspaugh. The position funds graduate education, applied research, and public engagement that reflect CFCA values of field-based science, wildlife restoration, and ethical hunting. Through this role, Dr. Millspaugh mentors conservation leaders and leads high-impact research—such as predator-prey dynamics, human-wildlife conflict, and species reintroductions—that advances the Fund’s mission and visibility.

Predator Effects on Reintroduced Bison

CFCF supports SUNY-ESF’s five-year study on how large predators influence the success of bison reintroduction on Blackfeet lands and Glacier National Park. Led by Dr. Joshua Millspaugh and two Native American Ph.D. students, the project uses GPS-collared wolves, remote sensing, and a novel robotic predator decoy to study how naïve bison respond to threats. CFCF funding covers predator-tracking gear and experimental tools, helping fill critical knowledge gaps that inform tribal bison management plans and long-term ecological restoration in this culturally and biologically rich landscape.

Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society is the leading professional association for wildlife scientists, managers, and students across North America. With a mission to advance wildlife stewardship through science and education, TWS supports research, policy, and workforce development. Its annual conference is one of the largest gatherings of wildlife professionals globally, fostering collaboration across academia, government, NGOs, and industry.

Annual Conference Gold Sponsorship

CFCF provides Gold Sponsorship for TWS’s 31st Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD. The grant offsets costs for student workshops, leadership training, and professional development sessions. The conference draws thousands of attendees and features nearly 1,000 educational offerings. CFCF’s support strengthens the next generation of conservation leaders and includes recognition, plus four registration passes for use by Fund representatives or affiliated students.

The Town of New Castle, located in Westchester County, NY, offers a wide array of recreational programming to engage families and foster community well-being. Its Recreation & Parks Department manages facilities, organizes seasonal events, and promotes outdoor activities that connect residents with local natural resources like Gedney Pond and the town’s expansive parklands.

Gedney Pond Youth Fishing Derby

CFCF supports the annual New Castle Fishing Derby at Gedney Pond, a free, family-friendly event designed to introduce local youth to fishing. The Fund helps offset hatchery expenses to stock the pond with fish, making the derby an accessible and engaging experience for beginners. Held over a spring weekend morning, the derby fosters appreciation for aquatic resources and outdoor recreation while reinforcing intergenerational connections through shared time outdoors.

Trout Unlimited is a national nonprofit dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. With over 300,000 members and supporters, TU advances science-based conservation through local chapters, national policy, and grassroots action. The Mianus Chapter leads regional efforts in Fairfield and Westchester Counties to protect native brook trout and engage anglers as stewards of stream ecosystems.

Big Apple Brook Trout eDNA Survey

CFCF supports TU’s “Big Apple Brook Trout” project, which uses environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to locate undocumented populations of native brook trout across 250 stream miles in the lower Hudson watershed. The initiative trains volunteers—including Camp Fire Club members—to collect samples and assess habitat quality. Funding supports sample kits, training, and creation of a TU national toolkit to replicate the project nationwide. Confirmed populations will trigger state-level protections, advancing science-based conservation and coldwater advocacy.

Founded in 1977, the Wild Sheep Foundation is a conservation leader committed to restoring wild sheep populations across North America and beyond. Through science-based management, strategic transplants, and disease mitigation, WSF collaborates with agencies, landowners, and conservation groups to reestablish viable herds of bighorn and thinhorn sheep in native ranges. The organization also engages the hunting and outdoor community to fund projects and advocate for species recovery.

Desert Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction in Texas

CFCF supports WSF’s three-year effort to reestablish a healthy population of native desert bighorn sheep in the Franklin Mountains of West Texas—an area absent of sheep for nearly a century. The project involves translocating up to 80 sheep from Elephant Mountain WMA, outfitting them with GPS collars, and monitoring for disease, especially from invasive aoudad. CFCF’s funding contributes to helicopter capture and telemetry costs, helping create a reservoir population in an aoudad-free zone with strong public visibility and conservation value.

Founded in 1911, WMI is a nonprofit organization focused on the professional conservation and science-based management of North American wildlife. It plays a central role in convening, coordinating, and advising agencies, researchers, and NGOs on natural resource issues, with an emphasis on collaboration, best practices, and sustaining wildlife populations through effective policy and practice.

90th North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference

CFCF supports WMI’s 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, to be held in Louisville, KY in March 2025. The conference hosts more than 150 sessions and workshops, fostering alignment among conservation leaders on shared goals, threats, and opportunities for the year ahead. The Fund’s sponsorship helps cover on-site coordination and communications, while also offering visibility among national stakeholders and ensuring a continued role in shaping the future of wildlife conservation.