Machia Wilderness Camp (VT) Turkey calls, Topography Map Reading-Photos

Machia Wilderness Camp turkey calls, topography map reading, and muzzle loader lessons photos.

The goal of the Machia Wilderness Camp is to introduce youth to the outdoor experience; To learn the life skills needed to survive in nature and learn to be productive keepers of  the earth. Campers are challenged to carry their learned skills into everyday life, and teach others what they have learned.

Slate Call is scratched
to make a sound that
 mimics a hen turkey. 

Shot Call, to make a sound like a
 crow, owl, or hawk 
in order to get 
the tom turkey to react. 

Muzzle loader

#1. Muzzle Control: Always keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

#2. Finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. 

#3. Don't load a firearm until you are ready to use it. 

• Only use black powder or black powder substitute. Never use smokeless powder, else your flintlock gun could blow up. 
• Black powder is made of, sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. 

Topographical Map

Blue represents water.

Green represents forest.

White represents open areas.

Black and red represent something man-made.

Brown are contour lines.

Contour lines and the distance in between them, represent elevation changes. 

View more Machia Wilderness Camp photos @

• Survival Skills lesson photos
• Archery lesson photos
• Fly Fishing lessons
• Hunter Safety

Bernie publishes short stories and photos reflecting Vermont values of Green and Clean and Community. He urges us all to pick up litter in order to protect our water, wildlife, and human health. 

Bernie resides in South Burlington, Vermont. 

The Machia Wilderness Camp is open to youths age 11-18. All programs involve interactive classroom activities combined with hands on outdoor learning. At the conclusion of the camp, participants can, upon passing the test, receive required certifications needed to obtain VT hunting licenses. Included are the VT. state hunter safety certification, archery certification, and a Lets go fishing certificate.      

Camp Director: Bonnie Machia With years of teaching as her guiding experience Bonnie is an effective executor of a special *vision. Read more about the Machia Camp origination, the origin of the vision @ the *Machia Wilderness Camp website.

 Instructors or teaching staff include (among others):
Denis Briggs- retired Army colonel. He managed the competitive marksmanship program for the Vermont Army National Guard. Denis spent five years as a licensed big game guide in Wyoming. In his 27 years as a certified hunter education instructor he trained over 700 youth in safe, responsible, and ethical hunting practices.
Paul Conover - Bio pending
Mike Menosky  - Bio pending           
Ally Degrassi - Bio pending
Chris Degrassi - Bio pending 
Lee Sienkiewycz - Bio pending
Tim Hawley-Hunter education instructor (10 yrs.), Vermont Let's go fishing program (8 years), Bow hunting instructor (6 yrs.).

Apprentices - campers selected from previous years, assist new campers in learning skills while expanding their own knowledge.
Liam, Chole, Jamie, Sterling, Brent, Kyle, Tyler, and Chase. 

Cooks: Gail and Fred Sanford

The Machia Wilderness Camp is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The camp is held at the Ethan Allen (National Guard) Firing Range and bi-athlete training center.