The Native American Liaison, John Antonio, participated in the 13^th Annual South West Native American Natural Resources Youth Practicum held July 10-14, 2006, at Hermosa Village (Ladder Ranch) located in southern New Mexico.  The Practicum provides high school studens with a "hands-on" learning experience in natural resource management and combines classroom with field sessions which enables them to learn concepts and techniques used to manage natural resources.   The overall objective of the program is to recruit Native American students into the natural resources profession.  Many students who have participated in past sessions are pursuing natural resources degrees and many are now gainfully employed with their respective Tribes.  The 2006 Youth Practicum provided the opportunity for 17 students to participate.  These students overall represented ten southwestern Tribes. 

This program is a partnership between Turner Enterprise, Inc., the Southwest Region Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, Region 2 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs - Southwest Regional Office, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Evergreen State College (WA).