With high Kudos to Rick Davis and his White Oak Elk Ranch in Henryville, Indiana, this year's Youth and Apprentice Education Program was a huge success.

On the weekend of August 19-20, 15 kids participated in the second annual two-day Basic Elements segment of the Program. Kids paired with mentors who led small learning groups in both classroom and field settings covered the basic elements of woodsmanship, marksmanship, indigenous game species identification and anatomy, tracking, blood trailing, trophy and meat care in the field, processing, conservation, ethics and safety

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Participants reached minimum proficiency levels through on-range instruction by Mike Maddox on the shotgun, Bob Edwards and Tom Hebert at the rifle range, Clint Blackburn with archery, Joe Kuerzi, Jr. on the finer points of blood trailing and Youth Program Chair Alan Kirschenbaum conducting a fly fishing seminar to those who were interested. On Sunday, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mac Spainhour spoke to the group about safety, ethics and the law as it pertains to wildlife and being a respectable outdoors person.

Special thanks to Mike Olhmann for coordinating the instructors and developing the curriculum. Thanks also go to Jim Warren and Katie Button for doing just about whatever needed to get done, to Marty Woods and Carter Button for cookin' n cleanin' and to Sherry Maddox for making sure all of the paperwork was in place.

Kids reaching proficiency levels were eligible to participate in a controlled-environment cull hunt at White Oak Elk Ranch on October 7. This opportunity offered a first-hand hunting experience under a high-fence environment to harvest an animal and practice all skills attained during the Key Elements Course in August, while building confidence for the apprentice hunter.

Twelve apprentices and their mentors went afield and 5 kids were successful in harvesting their first deer. All had an opportunity to harvest an animal. Most importantly, the level of excitement and satisfaction felt by each participant and their respective mentors is testimony to the value and success of this program. Again, thanks to Rick Davis for this generous contribution.

The Chapter also extends its gratitude to additional Youth and Apprentice Program sponsors: Dick's Sporting Goods, Leupold & Stevens, Double Bull Archery, Matthews Inc. and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. A special commendation of fortitude goes to Ivan Schell for preventing his apprentice from shooting at everything that walked by on four legs.