This past weekend, the Academy hosted another Advanced Educational Training, and it was an extraordinary meeting of the minds! Exclusively designed for our Academy alumni, this unique weekend program offered an immersive experience in conservation law enforcement. This included a few classroom lectures, hands-on training, a field trip, and interactive sessions with experienced officers.
Friday evening kicked off with students reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones through icebreaker activities. Once everyone had arrived and settled in, students had their first introduction to conservation law enforcement: who they are and what they do. Park managers from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources gave an overview of their roles and responsibilities. The night ended with s’mores and stargazing.
Students observe potential “evidence” in the woods.
Saturday was action-packed! Students began their day by learning from Pennsylvania Game Commission Wardens how to investigate a potential crime scene. Students used their observational skills and knowledge of deer, and even collected “evidence”. Students were fortunate to learn not only from a seasoned officer but also from a cadet whose memories of the training academy are still fresh! The PA Game Commission officers also introduced students to Canine Rowdy and his unique skills in article recovery, game detection, and human tracking.
Canine Rowdy anxiously awaits to show off his skills.
Next, students learned about what happens when a person is reported missing on public lands. From filing paperwork to interviewing the person who made the report to finding the person’s vehicle and conducting a grid search, students experienced what a massive undertaking it is to search for clues and answers across the landscape.
Students and staff line up to begin a grid search for “evidence” in a field that could be related to a (not) missing person.
In the afternoon, they boarded the bus for a field trip to the Bellefonte Fish Hatchery, where they met with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) to learn how to investigate a pollution incident. After finding the (imaginary) source of the pollutant, students toured the hatchery before visiting the H.R. Stackhouse training facility at Fisherman’s Paradise. At the training facility, students learned the roles and responsibilities of WCOs and compared and contrasted the law enforcement positions of the three presenting agencies. Students toured H.R. Stackhouse, gaining insight into what it might be like to go through a law enforcement Academy before returning to Krislund. The evening ended once again by the campfire – where s’mores and laughter filled the chilly night air.
Students explored the H.R. Stackhouse training facility at Fisherman’s Paradise in Bellefonte, PA.
On Sunday morning, students presented impromptu outreach activities to their families. Our four groups presented a variety of outreach projects, including:
Outreach category – Education: A presentation on basic search and rescue techniques (which we hope never to need to know again)!
Outreach category – Outdoor Mentorship: A demonstration of how dogs are used as a tool during investigations (in which Kasen gave his best impression of Canine Rowdy)!
Outreach category – Creative Arts: A collage illustrating what they learned about conservation law enforcement (thank goodness we keep copies of Keystone Wardens on hand)!
Outreach category – Service: A quick fundraiser acknowledging the critical role of dogs in conservation law enforcement and that not all dogs are treated as well as working dogs. This group raised $52 for the Pennsylvania SPCA – Lancaster Center!
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend with our alumni as they closed the case on conservation law enforcement. A special thank you goes to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for making this program possible through their continued support.
Advanced Educational Training – Conservation Law Enforcement Recap
Posted: October 27, 2025 by Katie Mace
This past weekend, the Academy hosted another Advanced Educational Training, and it was an extraordinary meeting of the minds! Exclusively designed for our Academy alumni, this unique weekend program offered an immersive experience in conservation law enforcement. This included a few classroom lectures, hands-on training, a field trip, and interactive sessions with experienced officers.
Friday evening kicked off with students reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones through icebreaker activities. Once everyone had arrived and settled in, students had their first introduction to conservation law enforcement: who they are and what they do. Park managers from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources gave an overview of their roles and responsibilities. The night ended with s’mores and stargazing.
Saturday was action-packed! Students began their day by learning from Pennsylvania Game Commission Wardens how to investigate a potential crime scene. Students used their observational skills and knowledge of deer, and even collected “evidence”. Students were fortunate to learn not only from a seasoned officer but also from a cadet whose memories of the training academy are still fresh! The PA Game Commission officers also introduced students to Canine Rowdy and his unique skills in article recovery, game detection, and human tracking.
Next, students learned about what happens when a person is reported missing on public lands. From filing paperwork to interviewing the person who made the report to finding the person’s vehicle and conducting a grid search, students experienced what a massive undertaking it is to search for clues and answers across the landscape.
In the afternoon, they boarded the bus for a field trip to the Bellefonte Fish Hatchery, where they met with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) to learn how to investigate a pollution incident. After finding the (imaginary) source of the pollutant, students toured the hatchery before visiting the H.R. Stackhouse training facility at Fisherman’s Paradise. At the training facility, students learned the roles and responsibilities of WCOs and compared and contrasted the law enforcement positions of the three presenting agencies. Students toured H.R. Stackhouse, gaining insight into what it might be like to go through a law enforcement Academy before returning to Krislund. The evening ended once again by the campfire – where s’mores and laughter filled the chilly night air.
On Sunday morning, students presented impromptu outreach activities to their families. Our four groups presented a variety of outreach projects, including:
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend with our alumni as they closed the case on conservation law enforcement. A special thank you goes to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for making this program possible through their continued support.
Category: Youth Blog Tags: Advanced Educational Training, Conservation Law Enforcement, featured