Kid’s Outdoor Day 
Rose Horst
     The first Saturday of June every year marks the annual event of the Fin-Feather-Fur Kid’s Outdoor Day , which is held at the Ashland County Wildlife and Conservation League ( ACWCL) in Ashland County. This year marks the 8^th year for the event the ACWCL hosts the event, many volunteers have planned many hours and days helping the occasion take place. This year Carl the Cardinal known as the mascot greeted the participants as they entered the drive of the facility.

     Each year this special event draws approximately 400 kids ranging from the ages of 6-12 years of age. There are two sessions with 200 participants in each session , which is divided into four groups. These groups include fishing , archery, BB guns, and exhibits. The most important thing expressed to these youths as they go from station to station with their group is the safety of the outdoors and the safe handling of some of the equipment used prior to the activity.

     The fishing takes place on two trout ponds stocked with approximately 400 trout. There is a volunteer assigned to help with one participant and that participant is allowed to take the trout caught home with them.

      The archery session involves the Ashland Bowman.  In this session the participants shoot compound bows at balloons.

      The BB gun shoot takes place on the muzzle loading range on the Conservation Farm. At this session there was a variety of targets for the participants to shoot .

      The exhibits were mostly educational and related to the outdoors including the Division of Wildlife, Ashland County Pheasants Forever with a dog retrieving demonstration. There was also the Physically Challenged Bowhunters of America which had a small archery range. The  Cub Scouts troop from Lucas had a display on scouting. The Ashland County Park District set up a display on information on the counties Parks along with a reptile display. Other displays included the Ashland County DARE and the Ohio native wildlife and fish taxidermy display.

     At the closing of the two sessions , each participant was awarded of their choice of a fishing pole , BB gun, or a bow and arrow and a voucher for related accessories of what they chose as their gift when they signed up. Also included was a hat, a free issue of the Ohio Valley Outdoor News, and a potted white pine to take home and plant. These choices of gifts were provided by the Fin-Feather-Fur and the Pheasants Forever of Ashland purchased the trees.

     This program was initiated by members of the ACWCL who thought there was a need for outdoor knowledge or activity to be introduced to the children of the community or families that may not have outdoor knowledge or would like to know more of the outdoors. Beginning in January each year , volunteers start gathering donations for their sponsors of the event. Sponsors and numerous sportsman clubs and conservation groups come together to sponsor this event which is the largest event of its type in Ohio. This event is not just for Ashland County Residents. There have been kids from area counties that have participated, some kids have come every year since they were 6 years of age to the age of 12. There have also been some of those kids through out the years of participating ,who are now volunteers of the event. One must pre- register for the month of  May to take part of this child hood memory one will be sure to always remember.

If you wish to Sponsor The ACWCL Kids Day you can do so by:
Purchasing adds in the program book
Donating to the Silent Auction
Donating time to the organization and execution of Kids day 

The buttons on the left are links to Sponsor information and the Program Book add application.  Both are in Adobe Acrobat (ver 6 or higher req.) , the application can filled in online then printed or printed then filled by hand.  Remember to print 2 copies, one for your records.

Last modified: March 14, 2008