March 20, 2023

RMEF to Host Revamped 2019 Elk Camp and Mountain Festival

October 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.—Mark your calendar! The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is excited to announce plans for its all-new Elk Camp and Mountain Festival to take place July 11-14, 2019, in Park City, Utah.

“This is a revolutionary approach to our historic national convention and one that charts a new course in scope and execution,” said Philip Barrett, Chairman of the RMEF Board of Directors. “Elk Camp will feature a wide range of interactive, family-friendly activities designed to celebrate our conservation mission, volunteers and partnerships, and appeal to everyone from our members to the general public. It will be a destination event that builds excitement and anticipation for the hunting season and reinforces the mantra that Hunting Is Conservation.”

2019 RMEF Elk Camp and Mountain Festival anchor activities:

  • Mountain Festival & Wild Harvest Festival
    • Interactive partner displays featuring shooting, spotting, mapping and more
    • Wild Harvest activations including field prep, processing and preparation of wild game
    • Hunting seminars and podcasts from industry leaders

 

  • Total Archery Challenge™
    • Multi-day competition with 100+ 3D targets to test marksmanship of archery skills
    • Future champions course for youth/novice archers

 

  • Elk Country Film Festival & Concert
    • World class music and entertainment in a festival atmosphere
    • Premiere of RMEF Films and independent productions

 

  • World Elk Calling Championships & Creation of Elk Country Hall of Fame
    • Awards banquet & induction ceremony
    • Expansion of current format to include regional qualifiers
    • Demonstrations, hunt seminars, vendor displays

Additionally, traditional RMEF gatherings will take place including the always popular Volunteer Fun Night that recognizes and honors volunteers for their efforts in raising funds and increasing outreach for the mission, Friends of the Foundation, Habitat Council and more.

“We are an outdoor-based organization so it is only fitting that our national convention centers on and features outdoor activities,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF President and CEO.  “We are excited to introduce this evolution to RMEF’s premier event while honoring and maintaining core elements that made Elk Camp what it is today.”

The Canyons Village in Park City will host the event with additional housing and camping opportunities available at other nearby locations.

More details will be released in the coming months.

Share
Filed Under: Events, National/World Tagged With: , ,

2018 Elk Camp Heads to Arizona, Registration Now Open

October 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is heading to the sunny Southwest to hold its 2018 Elk Camp March 15-18 in Chandler, Arizona.

“There is nothing like the energy and enthusiasm generated by our members and volunteers at Elk Camp,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We are excited to get together in Arizona to celebrate our conservation mission and milestones.”

As of July 1, 2017, RMEF has conserved or enhanced more than 7.14 million acres of elk habitat and opened or improved access to 1.15 million acres for hunters, anglers, hikers and others to enjoy. RMEF recently eliminated alllong-term debt for the first time in its 33-year history and is also riding eight consecutive years of record membership growth.

The Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass will host 2018 Elk Camp. As in past gatherings, RMEF will celebrate its accomplishments during Volunteer Fun Night as well as two other nightly events including auctions. Elk Camp will also offer various “Taste of Arizona” events including a desert jeep tour, an excursion to historic downtown Scottsdale and Major League Baseball spring training games (schedules/locations yet to be announced by MLB teams). In addition, attendees may play nearby championship golf courses and take part in other on-site activities such as boating, horseback riding or sitting down at Arizona’s only five-star restaurant.

RMEF will announce its world class entertainment performers and other information in the near future.

Full registration is now open and available here.

RMEF held its 2017 national convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Current Elk Camp 2018 sponsors include ALPS OutdoorZ, Browning, Sitka, US Bank and BMO Wealth Management.

Share
Filed Under: conservation, Events, National/World Tagged With: , ,

Country Music Artists to Rock Elk Camp

October 22, 2015 by 2 Comments

MISSOULA, Mont.—Five world class entertainers who combined to top the country music charts more than two dozen times will showcase their talents at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s national convention.

Elk Camp will take place December 3-6 at The Mirage and Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“Terri Clark, Tracy Lawrence, Craig Morgan, Chuck Wicks and Mark Wills are hands-down one of the most talented lineups we’ve ever had at Elk Camp,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “On top of that, they have a true appreciation of the RMEF and our mission.”

Award-winning Tracy Lawrence will provide an intimate acoustic performance during Thursday’sopening ceremonies. More than 30 of his singles, including 22 in the Top Ten and 18 at number-one, landed on the Billboard country music charts.

“I am excited to be back at Elk Camp for a second straight year,” said Lawrence. “Being up on stage in front of so many like-minded RMEF members makes me feel like I’m performing for family.”

Craig Morgan is also no stranger to the RMEF. An avid hunter and member of Team Elk, one of his favorite things to do when the leaves turn colors is to chase elk in the backcountry. Morgan’s music hit the Billboard country charts 17 times including seven Top Ten hits.

“It’s a thrill for me to bring my band to Elk Camp to help celebrate Volunteer Fun Night on Saturday. Volunteers do so much to advance RMEF’s mission and we can’t wait to get on stage and show them a good time,” added Morgan.

Clark is the only Canadian female artist to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She sold more than 5-million albums and has six number-one hits in the U.S. and Canada. Wicks has four top 40 songs and appeared on Dancing with the Stars and the TV series Nashville. Wills, named Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999, has eight top ten hits. All three will perform together in a guitar pull Friday evening.

“This was one of our more popular gatherings last year. We’re excited to have Mark and Chuck back with us again and look forward to watching Terri join them. It will be a treat to watch them interact, ad-lib and entertain on stage together with their guitars,” added Decker.

Elk Camp coincides with the first four days of the National Finals Rodeo. Sponsors include Browning, Buck Knives, Cabela’s, Hunter’s Specialties, Leupold, Nationwide, New Holland, Nosler, Peak & BlueDEF, Sitka, Realtree, Remington and U.S. Bank.

The newly expanded Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo will take place in the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center in conjunction with the Popular Cowboy Christmas Dec. 3-12.

Share
Filed Under: Events, National/World Tagged With: ,

Partial Registration Opens for RMEF’s National Convention

August 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.—Partial registration is now open for Elk Camp, the national convention of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The annual gathering will take place Dec. 3-6, 2015, at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

“Elk Camp offers our members and supporters the opportunity to gather together and celebrate elk, elk country and the conservation successes of RMEF,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “We recognize that some of our attendees appreciate the flexibility of taking part in some of our events while using free time to enjoy all Vegas has to offer during the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). A partial registration allows them to sign up and do just that.”

Highlights of Elk Camp will include Volunteer Fun Night, the 27th annual World Elk Calling Championships, live feeds from the NFR, luncheons, auctions and insider specials that allow attendees to add one of five different Las Vegas-area activities to their day-one schedules.

The three-day event will also include world-class professional entertainment, due to be announced shortly.

“Elk Camp is always a special event for our members and volunteers—much like a college or family reunion. We look forward to renewing those relationships and forming new ones,” added Decker.

Elk Camp is sponsored by our conservation partners at Browning, Buck Knives, Cabela’s, Hunter’s Specialties, Leupold, Nationwide, New Holland, Nosler, Peak, Realtree, Remington and Sitka.

RMEF will also hold its newly expanded Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Exposition, sponsored by Cabela’s, in Las Vegas. For the first time, the expo will cover 10 days and joins the popular Cowboy Christmas Gift Show in the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It will take place Dec. 3-12, 2015.

Share
Filed Under: conservation, Events, National/World Tagged With: , , ,

Viva Elk Camp, Registration Opens for RMEF National Convention

June 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.—Full registration is now open and available online for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 31st Elk Camp national convention set to take place Dec. 3-6, 2015, at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

“Elk Camp always generates a buzz of excitement and synergy that fuels us as members and volunteers to better carry out our shared mission of ensuring the future of elk, elk country and our hunting heritage,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Once again Volunteer Fun Night will highlight Elk Camp. Volunteers will be recognized for their invaluable contributions to RMEF. A yet-to-be announced musical artist will cap off the evening.

New for 2015 are RMEF insider specials that give attendees the option to add one of five different Las Vegas-area activities to their day-one schedules. The choices include a Hoover Dam tour, National Atomic Testing Museum private tour, Las Vegas Motor Speedway experience, Mob Museum private tour and the always popular Ladies Luncheon and Banquet.

Other Elk Camp highlights include luncheon and benefit auctions, an acoustic musical performance, the 27th annual World Elk Calling Championships, the popular guitar pull featuring several musical artists and nightly gatherings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. RMEF will also provide live feeds from the National Finals Rodeo on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Go here for Elk Camp registration information (http://bit.ly/1TgE6UI).

Elk Camp is sponsored by our conservation partners at Browning, Buck Knives, Cabela’s, Hunter’s Specialties, Leupold, Nationwide, New Holland, Nosler, Peak, Realtree, Remington and Sitka.

“The atmosphere at Elk Camp is always like a family reunion. We look forward to coming together to renew friendships, share successes and hunting stories, and celebrate another year of conservation accomplishments,” added Allen.

In conjunction with Elk Camp, the newly expanded RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo will take place Dec. 3-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It will include more than 300 exhibitors featuring the latest firearms, optics, hunting gear, trips and much more. Admission is free.

Share
Filed Under: Events, National/World Tagged With: ,

Elk Camp Closes, Record Expo Attendance

December 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.-Fresh off closing out a highly successful national convention, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is setting a course toward 2015 with a goal of better carrying out its mission.

“We felt a rush of adrenaline and increased enthusiasm from our dedicated volunteers, members and conservation partners who attended Elk Camp from across the nation,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We will harness that energy and surge forward as we expand our conservation efforts in doing even more to improve future of elk and elk country.”

Elk Camp’s evening events were at capacity Dec. 4-7 at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Among the highlights was Saturday’s Volunteer Fun Night which included special RMEF recognition of top individuals, chapters and states for their passionate efforts to raise funds to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.

Performances by country music artists Daryle Singletary, Easton Corbin, and a memorable guitar pull featuring Tracy Lawrence, Chuck Wicks and Mark Wills provided quality entertainment. RMEF also hosted live feeds of the National Finals Rodeo. Legendary cowboys including Ty Murray and Dan Mortensen, and current cowboys like Chris Shivers took part in RMEF events and autograph sessions as did hunting personalities Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Pat and Nicole Reeve, Randy Newberg, and Brandon Bates and Kristy Titus from RMEF Team Elk.

Attendance for the inaugural Hunter Christmas Exposition, presented by Cabela’s, was approximately 28,000 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. That figure broke the previous all-time high of 23,000 for an Elk Camp-related expo set in Albuquerque in 2001. The 2013 expo, also held in Las Vegas, drew approximately 12,000 attendees.

“We are grateful for such a strong show of support of our sponsor partners and the exhibitors who believe in us and our mission,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of marketing. “We are preparing to announce some exciting changes related to the next Hunter Christmas, but we cannot yet go into details.”

Share
Filed Under: Events, National/World Tagged With: , ,

Anticipation Builds for RMEF’s Elk Camp, Hunter Christmas Expo

November 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.-With just a few days until the curtain rises on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 30th annual national convention, all of its scheduled events are either sold out or nearing capacity.

Elk Camp will take place Dec. 4-7 at The Mirage in Las Vegas.

“We are thrilled with the response of our volunteers, members and conservation partners,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Elk Camp will be a tremendous celebration of our mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.”

Saturday’s Volunteer Fun Night has reached capacity. Easton Corbin will headline the 30 Years of Volunteers festivities. Other country music artists scheduled to perform during Elk Camp include Daryle Singletary, Tracy Lawrence, Chuck Wicks and Mark Wills.

Among many other events are the World Elk Calling Championships, Thursday and Friday Evening Banquets, live video feed parties from the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), Ladies Luncheon and Auction, and the Hunters Bonanza Luncheon and Auction.

The auctions feature a wide array of hunting and outdoor items including dozens of hunting adventures, fishing and backcountry trips, art, a log cabin, New Holland tractor, Bad Boy Buggy and a guitar signed by The Eagles.

“Elk Camp is bigger and better than ever because our Hunter Christmas Exposition, presented by Cabela’s, takes place over the same stretch,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “We expect to see a huge influx of attendees because of the excitement over the NFR and Elk Camp.”

Nearly 300 Hunter Christmas Expo vendors will set up shop in the Las Vegas Convention Center alongside the popular Cowboy Christmas Gift Show and Cowboy Fan Fest. Vendors represent hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor recreation, apparel, footwear, home and gifts, knives, optics and other outdoor related interests. Dozens of outfitters from across the country will also be there.

Well-known hunters will lead how-to seminar presentations. Rodeo legends and country music artists will also be on hand for autograph sessions.

Share
Filed Under: Events, National/World Tagged With: , ,

30th Annual Elk Camp to Feature World Class Entertainment

September 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Press Release from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

MISSOULA, Mont.—Five world class entertainers who know their way around the country music charts will showcase their talents at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s national convention, Elk Camp, in Las Vegas.

“Easton Corbin, Daryle Singletary, Tracy Lawrence, Chuck Wicks and Mark Wills are not only extremely talented, but they are all friends of the RMEF and believe in our mission of ensuring the future of elk and elk country,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing.

Dubbed by Billboard Magazine as “Arguably the best country singer of his generation,” Singletary and his deep, smooth tones will kick off Thursday’s opening ceremonies with an intimate acoustic performance. Singletary hit the top 40 of the Hot Country Songs chart five different times over his 19 year career and is an avid hunter.

“I’m very excited to be a part of Elk Camp 2014,” said Singletary. “I’ve had the privilege of becoming friends with a lot of the members and staff and the feeling at Elk Camp is like being at your family reunion. I’m honored to be a part of such a great event.”

Corbin exploded onto the country music scene in 2009. His first two singles both hit number-one and each of his first six singles cracked the top 40. The American Country Awards named him the Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2010. When he’s not in the studio or on tour, you’ll find Corbin chasing elk in the backcountry. He will rock Volunteer Fun Night Celebrating 30 Years of Volunteers on Saturday night.

“I am extremely excited to be playing RMEF’s Elk Camp again,” said Corbin. “As an elk hunter, I believe strongly in the RMEF and its mission. It is a real honor for me to be playing RMEF’s 30th anniversary event honoring 30 years of volunteers. Hunting is Conservation!”

Lawrence has 22 top ten songs including 18 number-one singles to his credit over his stellar 22-year career in country music. Wills has eight top ten hits and was named Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999. Wicks has four top 40 hits and appeared on Dancing with the Stars and the reality TV series Nashville. All three will perform together in a guitar pull.

“A guitar pull is a unique country music tradition where a small group of performers come together on the same stage at the same time to play guitar and trade stories. It will be fun to watch these three interact and make some ad-libbed, musical magic together,” added Decker.

RMEF will also provide live feeds from the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) on Thursday and Friday nights and host NFR parties with special drawings and giveaways.

Elk Camp is scheduled for December 4-7, 2014, at The Mirage in conjunction with the first four days of the NFR. The all-new Hunter Christmas Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the same time.

Share
Filed Under: conservation, Events, National/World Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

RMEF Elk Camp Gets BIG Makeover!

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

MISSOULA, Mont.–The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is making some significant changes to its 2014 annual convention known as Elk Camp. The RMEF Elk Camp will be held Wed., Dec. 3 through Sun., Dec. 7, 2014, in Las Vegas.

“This is not the traditional time of year for a conservation organization like ours to conduct an annual convention,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We saw an opportunity to do something different and exciting, and feel that after 28 years it is time to mix things up a bit.”

In the first weekend in December, Las Vegas also plays host to the beginning of one of the largest western lifestyle events in the country, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

“With literally tens of thousands western lifestyle enthusiasts in town we feel this is an opportunity to introduce the RMEF and our mission to a whole new audience that values many of the same things our organization works to protect,” said Allen.

RMEF also announced it will reassume management of its exhibition hall held in conjunction with Elk Camp. The new show will be called Hunter Christmas and will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). For many years, Las Vegas Events conducted the very successful Cowboy Christmas exposition in the North Halls of LVCC. In 2014, RMEF, working with Las Vegas Events, will conduct the new Hunter Christmas in the Central Halls of LVCC adjacent to Cowboy Christmas and the NFR Fan Fest.

“We know NFR fans enjoy hunting and the outdoors, we are extremely excited to bring Hunter Christmas, an exhibit hall focused on all things hunting and outdoors, to the NFR fans,” said Allen. “With Cowboy Christmas, NFR Fan Fest and Hunter Christmas all under the LVCC roof in December of 2014, NFR fans and RMEF members are going to have countless opportunities to see and shop a vast array of products they value.”

The RMEF board of directors met in May, and following extensive discussion the board unanimously supported moving Elk Camp to December of 2014. “RMEF has been very fortunate to see significant growth in membership, mission and fundraising over the past several years,” said Lee Swanson, chairman of the RMEF board of directors. “Our board is pleased to see our staff taking initiative to bring that same pattern of growth to our annual Elk Camp. There is little doubt when looking at the whole of these changes Elk Camp is going to reach new levels of success and reach more members with the opportunity to attend.”

The Mirage Hotel and Casino will again serve as the headquarter property for RMEF Elk Camp evening events.

“The Mirage is an outstanding property with first class staff. We are proud to partner with them once again,” said Allen. “The Mirage showed its commitment to RMEF by offering Elk Camp attendees extremely favorable Mirage room rates for the 2014 event at just $72 on weeknights and only $119 on Friday and Saturday nights.”

RMEF will be releasing more details on the newly formatted 2014 Elk Camp and Hunter Christmas Exposition in the coming months.

Share
Filed Under: conservation, Events Tagged With: ,

Elk Camp 2013: A Celebration of Conservation Successes

April 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is off to a spirited start in 2013 thanks to an enthusiastic gathering of members and volunteers at Elk Camp, the organization’s largest showcase of conservation that concluded March 3 in Las Vegas.

“It is always such a thrill to see so many good folks who are passionate about elk, elk country and conservation,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “The synergy and momentum generated from Elk Camp will propel RMEF to make more of a difference and carry out more significant on-the-ground projects in the coming year than ever before.”

Elk Camp highlights included:

* The announcement of the $30 million Torstenson Family Endowment which will allow RMEF to vastly accelerate its mission, attract more partner funds and more quickly head off habitat challenges nationwide, while passing on Bob Torstenson’s legacy and his passion for elk, elk hunting, and hunting heritage to the next generation.
* The presentation of RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award, to the Torstenson family.
* Celebrations of 2012 accomplishments include protecting or enhancing more than 130,000 acres of habitat, restoring a wild elk herd in Virginia, and reaching more than 354,000 children and adults via 322 hunting heritage and conservation outreach projects in 43 states.
* The RMEF World Elk Calling Championships presented by Leupold and the first ever Champion of the Champions competition.
* Entertainment by the Charlie Daniels Band, Ronnie Dunn, Daryle Singletary and Josh Thompson.
* The unveiling of “America, the Beautiful,” a video performed exclusively for RMEF by Daryle Singletary.
* A tribute to wildlife artist and RMEF friend Larry Zabel.
* Auction highlights included an original Zabel painting ($33,000), an ACS log cabin ($80,000), a Boomer 3050 New Holland tractor ($40,000), a saddle mule ($30,000) and a black Labrador puppy ($5,500) to support the RMEF mission.
* Numerous awards and recognition for RMEF chapters, volunteers and partners.
* The largest Elk Camp exhibit hall with more than 350 companies in more than 600 booths.
* A sneak preview of season-three of the “RMEF Team Elk” TV show.
* Nearly 200 students from Las Vegas-area schools took part in the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience, funded by Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA, to learn about elk, hunting and conservation.
* Evening events hosted at the Mirage for the first time.
* MidwayUSA was the official sponsor of Elk Camp 2013. Other sponsors included Aflac, Browning, Brunton, Budweiser, Danner, Cabela?s, Leupold, North American Hunter, Nationwide, Nosler, Realtree, Remington and Hunter’s Specialties.

“We are so grateful to MidwayUSA and all our sponsors, business partners, vendors, our volunteers and members, and all others who joined us from all over the country to take part in Elk Camp. Your passion and dedication to conservation inspires RMEF to lengthen our stride and do more good than ever before,” added Allen.

Share
Filed Under: conservation, Events Tagged With: , , ,