2006 Tioga County, PA Youth Field Day.

[Adam Helmer]

Today was the 12th Tioga County, PA Youth Field Day held at the Ives Run Facility. It is a day where parents can bring their kids ages 7 to 14 for free to a site with 10 sites ranging from .22s to sporting clays to wildlife identification to fishing, etc., and black powder, where I worked from 8:00 am until 4:10 p.m.

We ran through 156 kids and their parents/guardians in 30 minute blocks all day long. Each block had about a dozen to 15 kids who shot .50 caliber T/C Black Diamond inlines with .50 caliber patched balls and 50 grains of RS Pyrodex. Both kids and parents shot our 25-yard course at dozens of balloons stapled to a board down range.

We had a cloudy moring with constant rain all afternoon, but the kids insisted on going out from under out tent shelter to the firing point to break more balloons. Both kids and parents had a good time. I have finally shed my soaked clothes and shoes and am thankfull we had a great turnout.

All the adults are now, and all the kids will be voters one day. When it comes down to a vote to end the private ownership of firearms, many will recall the fun of pulling the trigger on our balloons.

This was my 6th or 7th year at YFD and I will be out at Ives Run again next year, rain or shine. If we are not recruiting new shooters, we should be. What are you doing to ensure our future?

Adam