A major survey gauging public opinion of conservation and sporting opportunities in the Manitowoc County area is being done this month by Leede Research and Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association.

The survey is at www.leedewi.com/outdoors and will also be available through a variety of sources. It takes about 10 minutes and can be done on a computer, smart phone or tablet.

The survey seeks to identify awareness in the community and how groups might better engage with sporting and conservation clubs. It will also seek to understand the unique needs of younger generations to create a better foundation for the future.

Manitowoc County has a 115-plus-year foundation of conservation organizations, making it one of the oldest sporting groups in the United States. Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association was founded in 1907 and continues its work through more than 25 sporting clubs that work together to benefit the area. Unfortunately, most of those clubs are experiencing declining membership and some have disbanded because of a lack of members and leadership. The survey is the first step in an overall program designed to better position area sporting clubs and conservation organizations for the future.

Leede Research is donating the online survey program and all related work as part of its ongoing Community Grant Program.

Dean Halverson, Leede’s CEO, said: “This is an important project to maintain our strong history of conservation and the outdoors in Manitowoc County. We need to create the structure for the next generation to manage our resources and protect our rights.”

Leede hopes to have the survey results available to the public in early May.

Halverson will also present the results of the study to conservation leaders from the county.

The goal is to form a Development Committee to determine how to best serve public needs and build future member retention and engagement. Through this process, a formal plan will be developed with investments for future growth and increased youth programming.

For more, go to mantyfg.org or email [email protected].

Read last week’s column:Tropical Blast raises over $57K for Woodland Dunes, and more in the latest Manitowoc outdoors report

Scoping the Great Outdoors: Read on for more outdoors news from throughout Manitowoc County and beyond.

Rifle and Pistol Club’s spring hunter safety course coming soon

Manitowoc Rifle and Pistol Club, 7227 Sandy Hill Lane, Two Rivers, will hold its spring hunter safety course in April.

Class dates are April 16, 18, 23 and 25, all 5:30-8:30 p.m., and April 27, 9 a.m.-noon.

People can register on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Go Wild! website. Cost is $10 per student.

Call Mike Rozmiarek at 920-901-6103 with any questions.

Snowmobile Show March 23 at Branch Station

Lakeshore Snowmobile Club’s Snowmobile Show will start at 8 a.m. March 23 at Branch Station, 8112 Village Drive, Whitelaw. It will include a meat raffle running 1-5 p.m. and cash raffle with drawing at 5 p.m., along with bucket raffles and 50/50 raffles throughout the day.

The Snowmobile Show is open to anyone and any snowmobile of any make, model or year is welcome for display.

Westshore Sportsman’s Club offers scholarship

Westshore Sportsman’s Club is offering a $500 scholarship. To be eligible, you must be a member, a child of a member or a grandchild of a member of the Westshore Sportsman’s Club and have completed your second year of college by June 30.

Applications can be obtained by contacting Mike Casebeer at 920-553-1255 or by downloading from westshoresportsmansclub.org. Applications must be returned or postmarked by June 30.

Still time to sign up for spring break day camps at Camp Tapawingo

Camp Tapawingo, 915 Tapawingo Road in Mishicot, is hosting two spring break day camps in March, and there’s still time to sign up.

Session 1 is March 26 and Session 2 is March 27. The camps are open to youth ages 7-14 and run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The day includes lunch and activities. Price is $35 per participant.

Go to camptapawingowi.org for more information.

More Bob Schuh:Click here for more ‘Scoping the Great Outdoors’ columns

Glacial Lakes Conservancy announces land volunteer days

Glacial Lakes Conservancy staff have announced land volunteer days.

A few are pull-a-thons and a few are cleanups, a couple are in honor of Earth Day, and some have invasive removal and planting.

Important water monitoring volunteer dates are also ready for sign-up, too.

Get ready to step outside and help GLC record critical data for the safety of waterways. Registration for the opportunities is at https://www.glaciallakes.org/volunteer-opportunities.html.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.