It was like a migrating herd. They just kept coming and coming.
Two-hundred-and-fifty boys and girls ages six to 16, along with their parents, recently gathered at the headquarters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for the annual RMEF Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience. And what an experience it was!
Participating youth had their choice of more than a dozen hands-on activities to learn more about elk, other wildlife, conservation and the outdoors. Activities included hunter safety, wildlife identification, archery and BB gun shooting, search and rescue, a climbing wall, flyfish casting and many more.
Two temporary fishponds gave kids the chance to differentiate between fish species and then to cast in to try to hook one. More than 50 kids chose to keep their fish and take them home to eat. Don’t worry, volunteers cleaned them and had them ready to go.
Youth that participated in nine or more activities received a free pair of binoculars and entered a drawing for 30 prizes that ranged from knife, field dressing and gun-cleaning kits to fishing poles, toys, rafts, drones, decoys and, of course, elk antler hats. Everyone also enjoyed a free lunch.
“It’s an absolute joy to see how excited the children are who attend this event. They started arriving an hour early and from as far away as Butte. It’s incredibly rewarding for our staff and volunteers to have the opportunity to help a child catch their first fish, hit the bullseye, cast a fly rod or conquer the rock wall,” said Ralph Cinfio, RMEF director of support services. “We are appreciative of those local groups that support this event like Missoula County Search and Rescue, Cabela’s/Bass Pro, U.S. Forest Service and Kingfisher Fly Shop.”
RMEF thanks all participating organizations and sponsors for their support. And offers a special thank you to Midway USA for an endowment that allows us to plan and host this event every year.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)
