Biathlon Yukon is preparing for the upcoming season with several camps and a lighting project to upgrade the course.

The lighting project is being supported by a $19,900 grant from the Community Development Fund. Lighting is being installed on the Grey Mountain Shooting Range that will help training athletes.

"We're really excited about the lighting project,” said Keith Clarke, from Biathlon Yukon.

Clarke says the project will give Yukon Biathlon athletes a much better course to practice on.

"It will just give our athletes a much better training facility,” he said.

Also coming up for young biathletes is the Biathlon Bears Camp, starting Oct. 25. The camp will be for returning young athletes looking to continue their training this year.

"It's basically a kick start to our season,” said Clarke.

The returning Bears will get a refresher on what they learned last year and get their minds ready for another great season of biathlon training.

There are three levels of Bears that will be participating; black bear, grizzly bear and polar bears. The bear system is a way of age ranking, much like cross country skiers use a colour system.

"We're calling it our bear camp,” said Clarke.

The Oct. 25 camp is only for young athletes that have participated before, Clarke says.

"It's not for the absolute never done biathlon before group,” he said.

More information on introduction camps will be available later on. Anyone interested in getting into biathlon can contact Clarke at 668-6631.

A senior biathlete camp will be held on the Nov. 27-29 weekend, where coach Judy Hartling will continue preparing her group of athletes for next year's Canada Winter Games.

This year the senior athletes will learn how to race and keep up with competitors.

"The camp will be a good focus,” said Clarke.

Also coming up on Dec. 5 and 6 are the Biathlon Canada trials for both cross country and snow show biathlon.

Biathlon Yukon will have a table set up at this weekend's ski swap at Mt. McIntyre for more information on the sport, how to get involved and upcoming events.