A record number of youth came out to experience what it’s like to shoot arrows, shotguns and rifles at the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) 3rd Annual Get Youth Outdoors Day on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays in Clear Lake, MN. USA’s annual Get Youth Outdoors Day brings together union volunteers from the Roofers, Bricklayers and Central Minnesota Building Trades to teach participating kids firearm safety and coach them in trap shooting, rifle shooting and archery target shooting. This year, 50 children enjoyed hands-on introduction to the shooting sports by rotating between archery, rifle and shotgun stations. Prior to these activities, they received a lesson in basic firearm safety and had the chance to identify various waterfowl decoys and big game sheds.
Kinsey Robinson, International President of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers was on hand to help out and share his love for the outdoors with the kids.
“Get Youth Outdoors Day is a prime example of the USA’s efforts to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage by hands-on events that instill youth with a love for the great outdoors,” said Robinson. “The Roofers are so proud to be part of this event each year, to see it grow from 22 youth the first year to 50 this year and to witness the smiles on the kids’ faces when they break clay targets or watch their arrows fly straight to the bullseye.”
Mike Ganz, Vice President and Business Representative of Bricklayers Local 1 who was instrumental in launching the event, returns each year to volunteer as a youth mentor on the course. Ganz also brings along his hunting dog and pheasants for a live demonstration that gives kids the chance to see an upland bird dog get on point on a pheasant. Following the demo, he lets them touch the pheasants.
“We get them out into the outdoors…give them a little taste of different things,” said Ganz, who explained what keeps him coming back. “I had a repeat kid from last year who came up and asked if we had the pheasants again. Two kids showed up with a local newspaper photo of themselves because they wanted to show me they got a turkey. That was pretty cool.”
Evan Wood, of St. Cloud, who celebrated his 10th birthday at this year’s Get Youth Outdoors Day, claimed it was, ‘the best thing he has ever done.’
About the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. For more information, visit www.unionsportsmen.org or www.facebook.com/unionsportsmen.