Dr. Dale Rollins, Extension Specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension, came up with the idea for the Brigades as a way to expand Extension' educational efforts by developing wildlife ambassadors.
As the saying goes "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." To that end, the Bobwhite Brigade has been cloned in five other states through collaborations with Quail Unlimited. The Bobwhite Brigade has expanded from its original camp in the Rolling Plains (initiated in '93) to East Texas (initiated in '96) and finally to South Texas (initiated in '98). The Buckskin Brigade (South Texas), an offshoot of the Bobwhite Brigade, fledged in June, 2000, and a second Buckskin (in North Texas) will hold its first Battalion in 2002. The Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society models its own summer camp (initiated in 1996) after the Brigades.
Brief Summary of Brigade Accomplishments:
Implemented award-winning conservation education program which uses bobwhite quail and white-tailed deer to teach leadership development;
Winner of two national and four state awards for excellence;
Empowered 540 youth with critical thinking, networking and communication skills
Trained volunteers (i.e., cadets) have presented over 2,600 educational programs, 346 newspaper/magazine articles, and more than 732 other educational efforts over the last eight years resulting in over 138,000 direct contacts of which over 38,700 were youth;
Six cadets have earned recognition as "Youth Conservationist of the Year" form the Sports Conservationists of Texas organization;
Trained 93 adult volunteer leaders and 22 County Extension Agents who have continued to support the program, often by serving on steering committees;
Original Bobwhite Brigade cloned to two additional Texas locations and to five other states; deer version (Buckskin Brigade) initiated in 2000;
Featured in 23 TV news stories (including features on Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas: An Outdoor Tradition and Texas Country Reporter);
Generated full page stories in Sunday editions of Dallas Morning News, Austin American Statesman, Tyler Telegraphy, Uvalde Leader News, Abilene Reporter-News, San Antonio Express-News, and San Angelo Standard Times;
Generated feature stories in Texas Fish & Game, Texas Hunting Directory, Texas Wildlife Association's magazine, Quail Unlimited's magazine, Ranch and Rural Living and Texas Farmer-Stockman;
Generated extramural support in excess of $155,000 to support camp funding; and
Serves as a model for interagency cooperation and coordination.
Recipient of Quail Unlimited's "Youth in Conservation Award" in 1994 and 1996.
Articles written by cadets and outdoor writers about the Bobwhite Brigade have appeared in Quail Unlimited Magazine,
Texas Wildlife Association Newsletter, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, Texas FFA Magazine, Texas Fish and
Game Magazine, Progressive Farmer and many newspapers across the state of Texas.
Cadets have given over 500 programs over the past four years.
Over three thousand dollars in scholarships have been awarded to cadets over the past three years.
Recipient of The Wildlife Society's "Outstanding Achievement Award -- Excellence in Wildlife Conservation" in 1995.
Has produced a cadet who went on to receive the Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas' "Youth Conservationist of the Year Award" in 1994.
The Brigade was adopted as the model for Quail Unlimited's National Youth Education Program beginning in 1995.
Cadets have presented (as of November, 2001):
over 2,617 presentations (i.e., speeches or slide presentations) reaching more than 138,000 direct contacts (approximately 38,700 of those were youth);
346 newspaper or magazine articles;
414 static displays at libraries, banks, etc.;
150 demonstrations of best management practices for quail;
