youth day help

[durp]

going to have a bunch of boys ages 6 to 16 out for a day with the bows...ill have plenty of help from parent but need ideas as to what will keep these boys intertained...we want it to be fun so those that aren't already archery nuts will become one.

any ideas ???

[$bowhunter$]

ARIEAL TARGETS!!! im 14 and when me and all my shooting buddies get together we lauch up arieal targets. we do this for hours without getting board and once we start hitting the real competition starts between us

[magnus]

My kids love long range water ballon shooting. Get to watch the arrow sail and balloons burst when hit.  They also loved the moving target at the shoot we went to a few weeks ago. It was their favorite!

[Dave Worden]

Obviously, kids love breaking balloons.  (So do adults!)  A similar target is ice.  If you're going to be outdoors make some ice "cubes" with strings in them and hang them as targets.  They'll break like balloons but usually will leave a smaller target to shoot at.  The bottom part of plastic milk jugs comes to mind as a possible "form" for making the targets.  Might take a while to make many targets though.

[YORNOC]

Fill some balloons with some baby powder then blow up. Explode with a puff of smoke when hit.
Cheap beat up old pelts from foxes and coons set up on sticks makes for a real hunting situation.
Stuffed animals too.

[Mike Vines]

Stick an apple in the target.

[CoilSpring]

I like to put a few ounces of water in a 2 liter coke bottle (for weight), tie a fishing line to it and cast it parallel to a line of boys ready to shoot that rabbit as he's reeled in past them.

Use an unshot water-weighted bottle to throw in the air and shoot w/flu-flu's.

If hay rolls are still in the pasture, see who can make the long shot on an "elephant" or flight shoot it from LONG distance- closest wins.  

One shooter at a time -Hand toss up some clay pigeons from CLOSE distance - 2 tries to hit one.  

Borrow some helium. Add to ballons with a string weighted so they just float across the field at head level or so - I like the powder in the balloons idea someone had, too.

Have a few prizes at the end for the...above winners (maybe have the parents do this part and bring something theirs wants but has to win it to get it) - have something for the young-uns regardless.

- flu-flu's, pocket knives (if parents approve), Cheap LED flash lights, sling shots, tools,camp saw, first-aid kit, leather crafts, tabs, etc.  

Maybe a hot-dog grill at the end, and a few bales or 3-d targets set up in a row while you supervise and 2 of the parents man the grill    

[TradDad]

In my son's class, they just can't wait for "BALLOON TIME!"... and when coach brings out his 3D badgers, they go nuts    

Oh Yeah and like CoilSpring said, who can't resist a hot dog in the middle of it all?

[lpcjon2]

Helium balloons and long string. Tie the balloons with a long piece of kite string and the other end to a fishing weight. use different length string for different height. The wind will blow the balloon around and makes it like shooting at birds.place 10-15 in an open area scattered around and watch the kids eyes pop when they see them all blowing in the wind.

[durp]

THANKS GUY'S...lot's of good ideas...there will be elk and deer burgers to go along with the dogs cooked over an open fire...some of these kids have never eaten wild meat let alone cooked it for themselves...

any more ideas out there???

[CoilSpring]

Also, just before eating (when you've got their attention) is a good time to instill hunter ethics and RESPECT for the animal God provided - you or another parent could offer thanks and request a blessing for the taken meat. Fun is good, but adding a seriousness to the lessons learned with gratefullness of heart carries forward toward building their character, too.  

You're gonna make some great memories with this, so make sure someone takes a bunch of pics to share with the boys/parents and with us.