Gem State Chapter’s Youth Day Ignites Outdoor Passion in Youth
EDGEFIELD, S.C.—Over the first weekend in August, the National Wild Turkey Federation Gem State Chapter held an educational youth day at the Pleasant Valley Gun Club in Kuna, Idaho. The event aimed to introduce children to various outdoor skills and shooting sports, inspiring a lifelong passion for the outdoors.
The youth day featured a variety of free activities, including fly casting, knot tying, archery, firearm safety, rimfire shooting and clay shooting. Paul Waldon, member of the Gem State Chapter, played a crucial role in securing the use of the private gun club for this event.
“The goal was to have a multitude of experiences for the children in order to help them find an outdoor pursuit that they were drawn to,” said Tate Namle, Gem State Chapter project chair. “Shooting safety and skills were at top priority and the first thing we planned.”
The event saw invaluable contributions from several organizations and volunteers. The Idaho Hunter’s Education Association assisted with registration, while the Idaho Fish and Game provided firearms, ammunition and targets. The Nampa Bow Chiefs contributed 3D targets, Genesis bows and expert archery instructors. Additionally, local soccer coach and avid fly fisherman Carsten Dumas led a fly casting clinic, and NWTF staff managed a table where kids learned how to tie essential fishing knots.
“I really place my gratitude to the volunteers for the success of the event,” Namle said. “Letting each of these groups do what they do best really lent credibility to each of the stations and provided expertise in each discipline that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. I would implore other chapters who do youth events to partner with experts in their communities to collaborate on these events to make them more impactful and involve more of the community.”
After several years without such an event, this year was hailed as a resounding success, with 21 children and their parents in attendance.
“I always said as I was putting this project together that if one kid discovers a hidden passion at this event, I’ll call it a success,” Namle said. “Well, one of the kids…picked up a fly rod. He tried it out and really got the hang of it. When it was time for lunch, he asked if he could keep practicing. ‘Of course,’ I said. We weren’t going to stop him anyway. The kid didn’t put that rod down until it was time to leave. And as he walked away, he told me, ‘I’m getting a fly rod; I’m catching a fish with one.’ I couldn’t have been happier for him and the chapter, knowing that we helped spark the love of the outdoors.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.