The founders of this educational nonprofit want to share their love of
the outdoors and field sports.
BRUNSWICK, Mo.-"All right, son, come right around here," said the
orange-clad hunter education instructor. A slight, shy 8-year-old stepped
from the head of a throng of children toward the shooting line. Holding out
a youth-sized shotgun, the instructor coaxed the boy, saying, "Now, when
somebody hands you a gun, it's just like when you shake hands with somebody.
You grip that gun right here."
After other preliminaries, with a strong emphasis on safety, the youngster
was ready to shoot at a flying clay pigeon.
Leaning in close to his protégé to be heard over the raucous rasp of duck
calling, the instructor said, "Okay, hold the gun straight up. Stand like
you're going to start a race. Foot out. Now bend your knee, now bend at the
waist. Keep your finger off the trigger until you want to shoot. When you're
ready, call 'pull!'"
At the boy's command, a saucer-sized orange target sped away. Hurrying to
catch up, he pulled the trigger, then flinched at the 20-gauge shotgun's
report. When he opened his eyes, shards of clay were flying in every
direction. He had broken his first target. The smile that split his face
spoke volumes about the pleasure the achievement brought.
This scene played out thousands of times at the Youth Game Fair Aug. 19. The
Land Learning Foundation (LLF) hosted the event at its Dean Lake Education
Center near Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Chariton County. Over 300
children attended the second annual event organized by LLF Director Marshall
Murphy. For some, it was their first chance to shoot shotguns, rifles,
muzzleloaders, air guns and bows and arrows. They also could see
demonstrations and get lessons in flyfishing, duck calling and retriever
training. Excitement was evident in the conversation of boys and girls as
they moved between events.
The LLF had lots of help at the event. On hand were the Missouri Department
of Conservation, the Missouri Waterfowl Association, the Missouri Trappers
Association, the Sporting Dog Association of Missouri, Pheasants Forever,
the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Missouri Hunter
Education Association, the Safari Club International and other conservation
and sport-related groups.
The LLF is the brainchild of Bryce and Brad Evans, two passionate hunters
and conservationists. When they bought land in Chariton County that also had
good wildlife habitat value, they decided to share their love of the
outdoors with others and give back a small part of the joy that hunting,
fishing and nature have brought them throughout their lives.
In the midst of corn, soybean and wheat fields, they are developing a
diverse mix of upland game habitat and ponds and wetlands for waterfowl
habitat and hunting. To introduce people to outdoor activities, the LLF has
built a lodge and cabins with accommodations for more than 90 people. Their
educational work is just getting off the ground. The Youth Game Fair is one
of the first programs.
"Some of these kids are barely big enough to shoulder a gun," said Bryce
Evans. "When a little girl or boy breaks that first target, they get hooked.
Our big thing is exposing kids to the outdoors and all the possibilities
there. These kids can be tomorrow's conservationists."
He said the LLF's educational programs are particularly valuable to parents
who want their children to take part in outdoor sports but don't have the
outdoors knowledge to teach them. Parents brought their children from as far
away as Illinois to attend this year's Youth Game Fair.
Also on the LLF's agenda is developing an agricultural education component.
The nonprofit organization uses innovative, wildlife-friendly practices on
its land, serving as a model for budding farmers who visit the property. All
the corn, soybean and wheat on the foundation's land are grown using no-till
farming.
LLF also is developing wildlife habitat with help from the Missouri
Department of Conservation. New ponds and adjacent wetlands will provide
habitat for waterfowl, as well as hunting opportunities. Their goal was to
open youngsters' eyes to the excitement of outdoor sports and, with that
accomplished, plant the seed of caring for the natural world.
"We feel like our outdoor heritage is too precious not to plan for its
future," said Evans. "Kids are the future, so we focus on them. If they grow
up in the outdoors and come to treasure their time there, the rest will take
care of itself."
To learn more about the LLF, go to www.landlearning.org/ or contact them at
22975 Hog Ridge Ave., Triplett, MO 65286, (660) 634-2240, info@landlearning.org.
-Jim Low-
