 Before the students were allowed to enter the woods, Dave Duvall, a
volunteer who runs the archery program, reminded the students to be
safety-conscious and to remain near the instructors. Duvall split
the group into two teams of 10, and the students took turns for over
an hour of shooting at practice targets. The targets included a
raccoon, a bear, a deer, a fox and a turkey.As the students took
their shots, instructors kept score and provided encouragement and
suggestions for those who still struggled.
As the students ran out of targets to shoot, they were called
back for a wiener roast. Parents were also invited to come out with
the students and join them for lunch. After lunch was finished,
there was a shoot-off in order to break two ties in the scoring.
Following that, Kevin Bettis, a conservation officer who was
on-site, showed the kids some fur from the types of animals they may
encounter in Illinois, such as muskrats, skunks, coyotes, foxes,
beavers and wolves.
[to top of second column] |
"Some of you may never actually get to see some of these
animals," said Bettis, who reminded the kids that animals are more
afraid of us than we are of them and will run more often than try to
attack.
After the students thanked Bettis for his brief show-and-tell,
Chris Cicci, the sports director of the local YMCA, gave each
participant a certificate. Cicci also gave ball caps for those who
placed fourth through sixth, with trophies going to those who placed
first through third.
Cicci expressed his thanks to Ron's Towing for sponsoring the
event and to Ron Adams of the towing business for being on-site to
help with scorekeeping and setup. Cicci also thanks Jim Grimaldi and
Grimaldi Law Office for sponsorship.
[By DEREK HURLEY] |
