Fox Chapel Area High School freshman embraces conservation

A Fox Chapel Area High School freshman with a commitment to conservation is raising monies to help pay it forward for the next generation of conservation leaders.

Claire Conti, 14, has attended the Wildlife Leadership Academy the past two summers.

The non-profit is dedicated to engaging and empowering high-school aged youth, aged 14 to 17, to become Conservation Ambassadors.

“Wildlife Leadership Academy gave me the confidence to believe that my future truly is to be a scientist—and more specifically a park ranger,” said Conti, of Indiana Township.

Conti raised more than $800 last summer and she’s raising funds again this year via her online fundraising link found here.

She received an award for being WLA’s top fundraiser for its Pay It Foward Scholarship.

“I’m thankful that my friends and family have the means to donate to a cause that I believe in. Conservation is so important, now more than ever,” Conti said.

Conti’s goal is to raise more than $1,000 in 2023.

Conti, 14, is the daughter of Cassie and Matt Conti.

The funds raised help to offset camp costs for lower income kids.

The week-long residential camp is held at Camp Krislund and Conference Center in Centre County and costs $500 per attendee.

This year, Conti attended Brookies (brook trout) camp and last year she enrolled in the Bucktails (deer) camp.

Courtesy of Claire Conti

Claire Conti, of Indiana Township does field work during the 2022 Wildlife Leadership Academy this summer. Conti is a Conservation Ambassador and raised more than $800 last summer to help fund tuition for low income kids to attend camp.

Conti was admitted to the WLA program at 13, a year early, after being nominated in 2021 by her science teacher at Dorseyville Middle School for exhibiting excellent grades, demonstrating a love of conservation and exhibiting an outstanding performance in class.

This year, the Annapolis, Md.-based Campbell Foundation, which focuses on the environment, matched all donations.

“I wanted to make sure that all kids—regardless of income—could learn more about how nature works and how we, as humans, can work to preserve it,” Conti said. “Everyone should have that opportunity.”

The academy is a year-long program that kicks off with an extensive, week-long summer field study program.

Each year, the camp focuses on one species of Pennsylvania wildlife.

Camp topics include ecology, biology, developing leadership skills and conservation.

Claire’s mother, Cassie Conti, said her daughter has a big heart and was interested in giving back from a young age.

“Her efforts helped at least two kids get to camp this year. We’re always so proud of her, but this is exceptional work,” Cassie Conti said.

When Claire’s not embracing conservation, she enjoys basketball, track — she broke the Dorseyville Middle School shot put record — and cross country.

“I have plans of becoming a biologist and hope to focus on conservation and education—maybe even becoming a park or forest ranger,” Claire Conti said.