Friends and Neighbors: Cole Carey headed to D.C. summit

Cole Carey still is not sure who nominated him to be a youth delegate to the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment, but he is glad they did.

Carey, a junior at Banner County High School, was one of 250 students selected nationwide to attend the summit June 28 through July 3 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. While there, Carey will get to participate and observe various fieldwork of experts, attend seminars and even check out the sights in nearby Washington, D.C.

“It’s pretty cool to get selected,” Carey said. “It seems like a pretty good opportunity.”

Carey received a letter in the mail to let him know that he had been nominated for the conference, and he then had to go online to register. A press release from George Mason University stated the Banner County student was chosen “based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in leadership in the sciences and conservation studies.”

“Ever since I’ve been in high school, I’ve really liked the science classes,” he said. “Being raised on a ranch, you’re raised to love animals and stuff.”

Carey, 16, was born in Wyoming and has lived in Banner County for nine years. He was a member of the BCHS Future Farmers of America the previous two school years, but could not get involved this year because his class schedule did not have the space for him to be in an agriculture class.

The summit’s agenda includes small group sessions with experts in the field, panel discussions, luncheons and field visits. Each day also has a different theme. The first day is “Setting the Stage,” followed by “Conservation and the Animal World” on day two. The third theme is “Small Group Field Visits,” followed by “Public Responsibility: What the Government is Doing for the Environment,” “Developing Your Future” and “Part of the Problem of Part of the Solution? Facing Your Future.”

Carey said he most looks forward to the field visits.

“They’ll take us out in the field and we’ll get to see what wildlife biologists actually do. It sounds pretty cool,” he said.

The Banner County student is looking at ecology and wildlife biology for future collegiate studies, and hopes the summit will give him an idea of what it will be like. He has also previously attended a couple High West Energy summer camps, and looks for the summit this summer to give him a better insight in the field.

“It’ll kind of give me an idea of what college will be like,” Carey said. “It’ll help show me whether that’s something I might want to do or not.”

The trip is also Carey’s first visit to the nation’s capital. In addition to the work portion of the summit, those who attend will get to go on a directed exploration of the Smithsonian National Zoo, go on a tour of various monuments and museums, and tour the capitol building.

“I think it will be pretty cool,” Carey said.