Nothing like 50 kids to inspire you

[Autumnarcher]

This past weekend was the 12th annual running of Camp wilderness, a 3 day summer camp I teach at here in MI. We run the kids through the MI Hunter Safety program, which included the IBEP bowhunter education as well.


Along with the classes, we have an archery range among our various free time activities, and the archery is always the biggeset draw.

We have the opportunity to work with kids who are of various experience levels, many with their own bows, and many shoot our camp bows.
They have the opportunity to shoot any type of bow they want-  longbows, recurves and compounds.

But year after year, I see several kids who take to shooting the trad bows, and the smiles on their faces is priceless.

This year, one kid in particular stood out to me. Noce young fella, well mannered, quiet and attentive in class. He had is own compound bow at camp, yet I only saw him shoot it once. Then he picked up one of our recurves, grabbed a few arrows, and started shooting. This was one of those kids with a lot of natural talent, and with very little instruction, was hitting the target regularly. I never saw that kid without a smile on his face.

When time allowed, the instructors often shoot with the kids, and thy are always fascinated at the accuracy of a traditional bow. We have several trad shooters on our staff, so the opportunity for the kids to get some proper instruction is high.

I know one young man who got bit hard by the trad bug. Im just glad to have had the opportunity to help it happen. I wish i had some pics but I was so busy all weekend I didnt get any pics at the range.

As always, I came home from Camp exhausted, but inpsired after spending a weekend with 50 great kids, and a dozen or so of the best staff you could muster up.

[LONGSTYKES]

Sounds like an awesome experience for you, working with all those young kids.  I also love the looks on their faces when they realize how much fun it is and good they are at shooting. Got too love it.

[jamesh76]

[Steve O]

My daughter came home yesterday smiling from ear to ear.  I've never seen her as proud as when she handed me her Hunter Safety and IBEP cards    

Thanks for all you guys do.  I will figure out a way to lend a hand next year.

[Osagetree]

[GO Rogers]

   

[Autumnarcher]

Steve, I was lookin for you Sunday, didnt see you. PM me a phone number, I can fill you in a little more on stuff. We really would love to add you to our staff, I guarantee you'll be hooked. The secret is, we have as much fun as the kids. Glad she had a good time, she was great to have in Camp. Thatnks for loaning her to us for the weekend.

[Autumnarcher]

So I got to thinking today. Sometimes I get good ideas a day too late. Anyway, the young man who I mentioned in my first post made an impression on me. Maybe Im just a sucker for kids who shoot stick bows. Anyway, A little over a year ago, a very close friend of mine, and mentor passed away. His bow collection was pretty big, and his wife gave a bunch of them to me to see if I could find homes for them. Most of them have, as I put them in the hands of folks interested in taking up Traditional archery.

Several went to kids from Camp, and being I just finished moving into a new house a couple days before Camp, I wasnt sure what was left. Anyway, I got to digging around, and found a couple more of Bob's bows. I can tell when my good friend is sending me a message, and I got it loud and clear.

So tonight I'll be choosing one of them to ship to the young lad. I've got an older Bear Cub recurve, 62" 42@28" that Im sure the youngster can put to good use.

And I'll be sure to send him the Tradgang web address, so when he needs a little advice alongthe way, he'll be in the right place.

[Steve O]

Yes, you have mail.

[chopx2]

Awesome!  

[Autumnarcher]

I recieved a letter in the mail today, along with a couple of pics Ill have to scan, from the young man I sent this bow to. Talk about one of those things that just plain makes your day, this was it.

John,
I can't even begin to describe how excited I was when I recieved your package and can't thank oyu enoughfor passing this bow down to me. I feel very honored to be given this bow,and will treasure itfor life.
you can sure bet that I willspend a lot of time with this bow, and willreally enjoy practicing and hunting with it. Along with that, I promise to always take very good care of this bow. I will make sure it is well tuned and maintainedbefore I nock that first arrow.

I had never shot a traditional bow beforeI went to camp, and I'm sure glad I did because I really enjoy it. I would again like to thank you because now I can continue my new found passionfor shooting taditional bows.
Also, I greatly respect your stipulation,and you can trust that this bow will NEVER collect dust and will always be in good hands.

With great thanks,
DB


The stipulation referre to is that if he ever fins the bow to be collecting sust and not being used, that he should pass it along to another who is interested in learning traditional archery. Somehow, I dont think thats gonna be an issue with this young man.

My dear deaparted friend Bob is smiling in HEaven today Im sure. His SPirit Rides the Wind.....

[Bowwild]

Or 1,916,000 kids and 23,000 teachers.