Archery, Shooting, Fishing Camp for Kids
Bighorn Outdoors Adventure Camp Gives Kids Great Outdoor Experience
Jun 29, 2009
The Bighorn Outdoors Adventure Camp was held June 26 – 28, 2009, near Columbus, Ohio, at The Sanctuary Too, a private whitetail hunting preserve. Forty-two youngsters aged 8 to 16 and their adult companions participated. More than 75 sponsors donated time, equipment, and money to make the camp possible.
Campers Enjoyed Archery, Shooting, Fishing, and More
The archery stations were nearly always busy. Campers began by being outfitted with bows that fit them properly. From there, they moved on to shooting at block targets until they became comfortable using the bows. Next, they progressed to shooting 3-D targets of game animals such as deer and turkeys. At the following station, 3-D targets popped up to provide greater challenges for the young archers. A 3-D target course was in the nearby woods. Skilled instructors supervised as the youngsters honed their archery skills.
Firearm instruction and practice were available with clay targets and a .22 rifle range. Shooting coaches helped the kids sight properly and shoot accurately. They learned to load and unload the guns and to handle them safely.
Fishing instructors provided lessons in fly casting and pond fishing. Happy campers displayed stringers of bluegill, and they reported that a 10-pound channel catfish had been pulled in that morning.
Outdoors Camp Builds Confidence, Teaches Responsibility
Tom King, of BigHorn Outdoors, a television program that features hunting adventures, is the camp’s organizer. King explains that the event’s purpose is more than just promoting outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing. King and his volunteers hope to provide youth participants with opportunities that allow them to gain confidence in their abilities and to create strong bonds with their adult companions through shared experiences.
Many campers were attending with parents, but some were with other family members or adult friends. King explained that some of the children had deceased parents, and that their adult companions brought them to camp to help build new relationships in their young lives. Volunteers gave generously of their time and attention as they tried to create a camping adventure that would provide a setting for children to grow in self-esteem and responsibility toward others. As King puts it, “We want all our volunteers to be the kind of people who can show the kids what it is to be good men and women.” He went on to add, “We want to make this a place where kids learn by getting in there and doing it, not just being told about it.”
Outdoors Opportunities for Youth Are Increasing
According to King, many of his sponsors have increased their offerings of outdoors sporting equipment designed for youth and women. More archery equipment, shotguns, and rifles are now available in lighter, scaled-down models. Programs that teach young people to handle firearms and hunt safely are available at shooting ranges and hunt clubs. Special youth hunting seasons allow young enthusiasts to hunt with adult supervision at times when other hunters are restricted. In several states, children under sixteen years old can fish without purchasing fishing licenses, although this varies from state to state. For more information about special hunting and fishing opportunities for youth, interested persons should check with the Department of Natural Resources in the state where they wish to hunt or fish.
Tom King and his dedicated volunteers represent many people who are working to introduce youth to the benefits of outdoor sports. Fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping provide healthful exercise along with learning about nature in the best of classrooms and laboratories: the forests, fields, lakes, streams, and rivers of the natural environment. Children who spend time outdoors and learn about the complex relationships between humans and the earth’s other plants and animals develop a deep understanding of how the world works. Tomorrow’s biologists and environmentalists may grow from today’s adventure campers. This goal was expressed in the slogan that decorated the brightly colored T-shirts participants wore: Helping Today’s Youth Become Tomorrow’s Leaders.
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