Story originally printed in the Coulee News or online at www.couleenews.com
Published - Monday, March 06, 2006
‘Outdoors experience’ draws huge crowd
A massive volunteer effort at Coulee Region Christian School last weekend introduced hundreds of kids to the world of outdoor sports. The event also garnered more than two dozen new mentors to help disadvantaged children and provided more than enough funding for the senior class missions trip.
“They surpassed all expectations for fund-raising,” said Craig Mortz, executive director of Kicking Bear 1 on 1.
Mary Roraff, CRCS event coordinator was equally impressed. “Even if one person gets mentored or one life gets changed, it was worth it,” she said. “We did our best and God put it together.”
Ray Howell, the founder of Kicking Bear 1 on 1, estimated that more than 2,000 people attended the event. His presentation was before a standing-room-only crowd.
Throughout Saturday evening, wide-eyed youngsters along with their parents listened to wildlife presentations from experts including Nathan Jones, star of the “Wild Extremes” TV show that appears on the Dish Network. Jones came from his home in southern Indiana to help, crediting his interest in hunting to the mentorship of two of his father’s friends early in his youth.
Nearly two dozen vendors packed the gymnasium floor with the newest products and equipment in outdoor sports. They contributed prizes to the silent auction, such as youth bow sets, tree stands and even a half-day guided fishing trip by TGIF.
Bob Frisk of Korob Acres Game Farm in New Lisbon brought along his own school; a school of hungry, hook-grabbing trout. Frisk turned half of the CRCS cafeteria into a trout pond, even supplying his own water and pumping system.
It was through the creative efforts of Howell and Mortz, however, that what began as an idea for a simple archery shoot mushroomed into an outdoor extravaganza. Howell credited the CRCS senior class for providing the legwork.
Although Kicking Bear 1 on 1 specializes in outdoor camps for kids, Sportsman’s Night at CRCS was the first event of its kind, so the outcome of the event was anybody’s guess. By Saturday night Howell was still cautious.
“If this is successful,” he said, “I’ll do more of them.”
By Sunday afternoon, he was a believer.
“Here’s a school which had 10 seniors,” he said excitedly. “Let’s take this and go to a school with 300 seniors — holy smokes! Like my wife says: ‘This is like the mouse that roared.’”
For Howell and Mortz, getting mentors into the program is a high priority. “After training, the new mentors are matched up with disadvantaged kids looking for a mentor,” said Mortz. He added that the goal of the program is to help kids do well in school and faith issues as well as introducing them to outdoor sports.
According to Mortz, Kicking Bear 1 on 1 camps are available in 16 states with one scheduled for the La Crosee area this summer. Camp information may be obtained at Gander Mountain or www.Kickingbear.org.
All stories copyright 2006 Coulee News and other attributed sources.