Outreach Event Brings Outdoors to Thousands of Youth Each Year
The NWTF Minnesota State Chapter co-sponsored the Minnesota Youth Outdoor Activity Day in Alexandria for the fifth year, introducing flocks of interested youth to conservation, turkey hunting and the state chapter’s robust mentored-hunt program.
The event, hosted by Viking Sportsman and the Douglas County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, saw thousands of youth participate in the wide range of events held at the Alexandria Shooting Park.
The annual Youth Outdoor Activity Day is a free, family-friendly event intended to provide youth with a fun environment to learn about outdoor recreation in its many forms. Activities included trap shooting, hunting, angling, fishing, ax throwing, archery and more.
The NWTF Minnesota State Chapter put a turkey spin on the event and hosted an all-encompassing wild turkey learning experience. At the booth, NWTF volunteers provided youth with the knowledge and ability to pattern shotguns (.410, 20 gauge and 12 gauge.), practice turkey calling, learn how to scout for turkeys and the importance of conservation.
“This event is an investment in the future of our hunting heritage,” said Ralph Warzecha, NWTF Save the Hunt Coordinator for Minnesota. “The smiles on the kids’ faces when patterning shotguns and yelping on calls were priceless. We are proud to offer the youth in Minnesota these opportunities as well as the opportunity to apply the skills they learned at the booth at one of our many mentored hunts.”
Dean Krebs, event coordinator and Douglas County Pheasants Forever Chapter President, also saw the hunting heritage impact firsthand.
“There was a young boy who was so excited about his first archery experience that his dad stopped and bought him his own bow on the way home,” Krebs said. “They shared pictures of him shooting in his backyard. That is winning.”
Exactly 2,587 kids and 2,117 parents, grandparents and chaperones immersed themselves in all the great experiences hosted at the event, which will provide a shared foundation for getting outdoors in the future.
“If we are going to make the outdoors a lifetime passion for kids, it is absolutely crucial to get the whole family involved, and this event did just that,” Warzecha said.