HOWARD – In the technological age, too many children don't get the opportunity to experience the great outdoors.
Every year, Knox County's Pheasants Forever Youth Day introduces children of all ages to the many arts and skills of outdoorsmanship.
On Saturday, Apr. 10, at Campbell's Range in Howard, area children received a full hands-on introduction to activities like hunting, fishing and archery. They also got to learn about the environment, recycling, composting, leather crafting and birdhouse building. At every station, instructors patiently shared their years of experience.
"We don't just say, 'No child left indoors,'" Keith Holt, vice president of the Knox County chapter of Pheasants Forever, told the Mount Vernon News. "We live it. It's what we want to see. It's just who we are."
Tomahawk throwing is a yearly favorite. It never fails to draw the youngsters, who test their skills under proper supervision. Bryson Newton of Mount Vernon, age 10, feels that throwing a tomahawk at a log is the most fun you can have at Youth Day.
"I just started throwing at the smaller log," Bryson said. "The secret is throwing it overhand, behind the back of your head. I use my whole arm."
The kids got the opportunity to use a rifle and a muzzleloader under strict supervision. Cash Parker, 11, of Fredericktown, already had experience firing a rifle. But he still wanted to try his hand on the firing range.
"I did pretty well," he said. "This is my second year coming here. This is my favorite part. I have a gun at home."
Cash also had a chance to enjoy some of the other activities.
"I like to do fun stuff like fishing and making birdhouses and stuff," he said. "I might try some of that at home."
Cash's sister, Cassie, who is 10, has shot a BB gun. But a rifle was a step up.
"I did okay on this," she said. "I just want to try everything. I threw the tomahawk and I hit the target once. It wasn't as fun as this."
Twin sisters Lauren and Carley Skinner, age 4, from Pickerington, both got a chance to fish for the first time. Their father, Brian Skinner, a Mount Vernon native, found out about Youth Day online.
"I wanted to bring the girls out here because it was a nice day," the elder Skinner said. "It's a good learning experience for kids."
It may have opened up the door to a new hobby for Skinner and his daughters.
"I'm not a fisherman, but we'll probably get the girls some poles after this," he said. "Right now, they are borrowing their friends' poles."
As for the girls, Lauren was too busy fishing to talk, but her sister Carly shared her thoughts with the News.
"I'm fishing," she said excitedly. "I've never fished before. I'm going to ask Mommy if I can have a fishing pole. I like fishing."
Simple moments like those are the result of much planning and preparation, but they're well worth it.
"We work on this all year," Holt said. "When we start tearing down at the end of the day, we start making plans for next year's Youth Day. Everybody here is a volunteer. They all step up. They donate their time, money and energy and it's for one reason: the kids."
