Yankee Waterfowlers Mentoring Youths

[IRISHWISTLER]

Aye Mates,
Yesterday June 6th, 2015 was not just any other weekend day, t'was the YANKEE WATERFOWLERS HUNTING RETRIEVER CLUB ANNUAL KID'S DAY. The YWHRC sponsors this annual event in an effort to get our youth involved in hunting and sporting dog related activities. YWHRC member volunteers donate their time, incredible knowledge, and partner their retriever(s) with a youngster in a day of fun filled activities to promote the interest of young folks in becoming involved in these very special aspects of our great American heritage of outdoor sports. The event is open to kids of all ages and is an opportunity provided without charge. In addition to the activity schedule, participants are treated to an outdoor lunch of burgers, hotdogs, and a variety of other summer time foods.

Despite being well publicized, it is a troubling sign of the times that we had only four children attend the event. The poor attendance is reflective of a changing demographic with regard to the participation of those that hunt and or work with / compete with bird dogs (in this case retrievers), something that should be of concern to all who love the retriever breeds. These dogs love to work and field work is a mainstay of the work / activity most enjoyed by the various retriever breeds. Many of the parents of young children do not hunt and have had no experience with sporting dogs as a result, the end result being that their kids have little chance of experiencing the opportunity to participate in related activities. The annual kids day sponsored by YWHRC seeks to provide kids that might never have the opportunities of working with the retriever breeds a chance to learn about retrievers and the many wonderful aspects associated with the retriever breeds.

The kids, the dogs, and the member volunteers ALL had fun and made memories in the process. Come along on a pictorial perspective of this wonderful event.


The morning sky presented a threat of rain as the youths and their YWHRC mentors partnered up for gundog related activities.


DUCKS UNLIMITED Regional Director for RI, CT, and MA Wayne Roberts (in the red shirt) brought a variety of educational material specific to the subject of waterfowl and habitat conservation, waterfowl identification posters, and other DU Greenwing goodies that the kids just love diving into.


YWHRC ANNUAL KID'S DAY COORDINATOR Bob Franey did an awesome job of organizing an event that the kids would enjoy, learn from, and that could literally recruit them into the ranks of retriever enthusiasts.


YWHRC member volunteers line up with their dogs to partner with the kids to be mentored during the annual event.

See Part II of this pictorial perspective on the YWHRC ANNUAL KID'S Day event for a continuing look at this very special day shared by young folks, retrievers and their owner / handlers.

Cheers,
Irishwhistler

[POPTOP]

Awesome event! So great that the club has a special day for the kids to learn.

[Maxx&Emma]

That is wonderful!

[Scoutpout]

what a wonderful thing for the Club to do, and sounds very well-thought-out to both entertain and educate the kids. such a shame that there wasnt a bigger turn-out

[Dallas dawg]

Looks like a great group of people