Reports on contest winners and upcoming competitions— plus a new state record brook trout—crowd the early summer calendar for active area anglers.

Department of Environmental Conservation officials earlier this week confirmed the identity, weight, length and girth measurements for a modern-day state record brook trout entry.

Tom Yacovella, a well-known wildlife artist from Utica, fished Raquette Lake on June 7 and landed a big brookie that tipped four state-certified scales at 5 pounds, 4z ounce 1/3 , measuring 21 inches with a 15-inch girth. Yacovella’s trout shattered the previous record of 4 pounds, 15 ounces, a fish caught in 2006.

The 18th annual 444 Walleye Tourney and Kids Derby at Port Colborne, Ont., on June 20-21 had the team of Art Waines, Bob Waines, and George Jensen take home the overall prize of $3,200. The Kids Derby on June 20 saw Welland, Ont. residents Hunter Dumolin, 3, receive overall honors for his 12-inch catfish and Tamara Eltriham win the girls division with an 11-inch catfish.

Final results have yet to be posted for the 25th annual Walleye Tournament, but the New York Walleye Association Amara- Can is registering teams for its contest at Dunkirk Harbor on Saturday and Sunday. For late registration details, call 897-3290 or 875-8872.

Cam keeping

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology welcomes birders interested in sorting and studying nest-camera shots. CLO has been placing live video gear in nests across the country since 1999. The new CamClickr program will help scientists learn more about bird nesting behaviors.

Participants can tag images, track stats, follow the latest Twitter feeds, and collect points for possible prizes. For details, go to camclicker.org.

Camp keeping

Two outdoors camps programs have open slots for youths this summer.

Camp Rushford offers boys and girls the most open slots among DEC environmental education camps statewide. Rushford conducts eight week-long camp programs, with six of the remaining seven weeks open for attendance. To check on all DEC camp offering, make a visit to dec. ny.gov/education/2013.html.

Hamburg Natural History Society starts a series of summer day camps this week. The 2009 Triple Trek series—held at the Penn Dixie Site, Woodlawn Beach State Park, and Tifft Nature Preserve—begins camps Monday-Friday, July 20-24, Aug. 3-7, and Aug. 17-21.

Science Adventure Day Camps, for youths ages 8-12, offer five-day explorations of geology-fossils, astronomy, weather, ecology, and rocketry at the Penn Dixie Site in Hamburg. Camps go July 13-17, July 27-31, and Aug. 10-14. For registration info, call 627-4560 or go to penndixie.org.

Canal Derby

The 19th annual Erie Canal Derby begins Tuesday and goes to July 19, offering prizes in seven divisions, daily kids prizes, and a boat package as grand prize. For entry sites, and weigh-station locations, call 772-7972 or 830-8434.

’Chuck Derby

The 2009 Woodchuck Derby welcomes two-shooter teams to a weigh-in competition July 18. Prizes go to the three teams that enter the heaviest two chucks taken during that day.

Entries will be accepted until 9 p. m., followed with awards presentations and a party at 1259 Bray Road in Arcade. Check with Russ Morgan (353-0839) or go to huntingwny.com.