June 4
2011
Youth Field Day
YFDay
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Northampton County Youth Field Day was conceived and started in 1992 by Martin Bortz, Clay Ott, and Jerry Seyfried as a way to teach kids about conservation and outdoor sports. It is currently run by the Northampton County Youth Field Day Foundation and is a day when volunteers from many different sportsmen’s groups from across the county get together to introduce the youth of the valley to the outdoor sports.
Approximately 200 children ages 7 – 15, with an adult chaperone, pre-register and come out to Stockertown Rod & Gun Club and are led though 10-12 different “stations” where they are taught about conservation of natural resources, safety, sportsmanship and the hours of fun available in the outdoors. Trained volunteers in each sport give the kids and the adults instruction and hands-on experience in fishing, shooting a bow and arrow, boating safety, PA wildlife, and target shooting. All those willing to try are given a chance to shoot BB guns, 22 cal. rifles, shotguns, and black powder rifles with over 75 experienced sportsmen volunteers watching over their safety.
The day starts at 8:30 AM with a sign-in where the participants are divided up into groups and a volunteer leader is assigned. At 9 AM they move out to the first station, where they begin the day. Each station takes 30 minutes at which time they are told to move to the next area. At noon there is a lunch break when everyone is treated to hot dogs, chips and soda before moving back to the stations.
The day ends when each group has been to all of the stations, at which time they all report back to the pavilion to pick up their prize. Every child is pre-drawn for a special prize ranging from tackle boxes to signed wildlife art prints worth hundreds of dollars, from camping or fishing equipment to expensive rifles along with pamphlets and handouts from the PA Fish & Boat Commission and the PA Game Commission.
This is all provided FREE through state and county grants, donations from sportsmen, and corporate sponsors like Rudy’s Car Wash who has been part of the Field day since it began and the Charles Chrin Companies. This fundraising is topped off by our annual Whitetail Deer Classic Banquet where those attending vie for over 100 Guns, Bows and Cash Prizes.
For more information about Youth Field Day or to get involved - Call 610-759-9255 or email NCYouthDay@aol.com – Richard Tobias, President.