The First Westminster Scouts Troups and members of the Humboldt Wildlife Federation teamed up on Saturday for an introduction to outdoor sports and the firing range at the new Education Centre on Highway 20 south. Young people from various age categories in the organization came out to try their hands at shooting, archery, slingshot shooting, and to gain appreciation for the natural world.
Scoutmaster Lorna Strome said the kids were having a great time cycling through the activities. She explained how the partnership came about with the support of HWF president Scott Ewen.
“We have all age ranges we have in the group, from Beavers up to Scouts and Rovers,” said Strome. “Scott contacted me at the beginning of May and asked if we would be interested in coming out for National Range Day.
The range weapons of choice were the long barrel .22, pellet guns, bow and arrow, and slight shots with clay pigeons as targets.
Kason Dieno was one of the kids excited to take part in the day’s challenges.
“It was really fun, and it was the first time I’ve been here shooting,” Kason said. “I hit a couple targets with one bullseye.”
The day was part of a plan to see the HWF work on community engagement, explained Scott Ewen. The newly reconstructed clubhouse, labelled the Education Centre, will anchor future events designed to connect and promote the outdoor sporting world with a broader audience.
“It’s good to see the parents participating,” said Ewen. “It's brand new for some of the kids, and that’s the reason we’re doing this. Rural farm kids tend to have a chance to do a little shooting, but kids in the city may not have those opportunities.”
A free lunchtime burger feast kept everyone full, and with a wrap-up time of 3 pm, everyone had ample time to check out all the stations and get a bit of a feel for the various shooting sports. There will be more such programming welcoming newcomers to the Humboldt Wildlife Federation shooting range and Education Centre.