Family Get Outdoors Event
Rose Tree Ranch
Santa Cruz County, Arizona ~ November 19th, 2016
What: The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently hosted a Family Get Outdoors Event. This community program was designed to get youth and their parents involved in shooting and archery sports. It was supported by Chapter fundraising efforts throughout the year and by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. There was no charge to participants.
When: The clinic occurred on November 19th, 2016. Where: This Family Get Outdoors event was held on a private ranch just north of Elgin, Santa Cruz County, Arizona General Information: The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter hosts a number of events each year for residents of southeastern Arizona. Family Get Outdoors is one such activity. Developing archery and shooting skills of the entire family was its focus. The event was free to participants. Financial support was provided by an Arizona Game and Fish Department grant and by fundraising efforts of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter. Twenty-one youth and adults from 6 families attended. Hometowns were mostly in Cochise County; however, a family from Sahuarita attended as well. Eleven mentors offered their expertise at center fire rifle, .22LR rifle, shotgun, and archery stations. Four more volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter provided registration, cooking, kitchen, and photography support during the 1-day event. Temperatures warmed up to the 60s and 70s during the day after a chilly early morning. The wind was very noticeable at times, too. After a brief orientation at the registration area in the morning, the participants divided into family groups and headed to 4 nearby teaching stations. At Station 1, archery skills were acquired. Station 2 was a small caliber range. Here, participants fired .22LR rifles at paper targets and very small, metal silhouettes. Shotgun safety and handling were discussed at Station 3. Then each student shot at flying clays. Station 4 was a center fire range where .22/250 and .243 rifles were fired at targets about 60 to 70 yards away. At all stations, live fire occurred only after learning range safety and proper firearm and bow handling. Presenters at each station knew their topics well. Backgrounds of the instructors varied from shooting range officers and trap and skeet instructors to members of the local archery club. A delicious lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, cookies, cake, watermelon, and refreshments was provided at mid-day. After lunch families learned how to maintain the bows, arrows, and firearms used in the morning. Visible inspection of archery equipment and proper cleaning and storage of firearms were emphasized by the mentors. A special thank you goes to the Rose Tree Ranch for use of their facilities for the event. Still more thanks go to the instructors at the 4 hands-on stations. They were Ryan Catlett and Conrad Sheley (Archery); Dave Winiesdorffer, Tom Fuller, and John Millican (Center Fire Rifles); Dave Kemnitz, Wayne Kaiser, and Randy Keiller (.22LR Rifles); and John Rose, Stephen Ponder, and Steve Ponder (Shotguns) Providing registration, meal, and photography support were Joey Fuller, Dave Inman, Bob Pourier, and Tom Deecken. All are active members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter. And finally, a special thank you goes to all the families that attended. You were the reason that the Family Get Outdoors Event was a success! |
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