Learning about outdoors at early age

Ten-year-old Andi Martin went target shooting for the first time when she was nine. She was with her grandfather near the town of Bell in southern Missouri.

Andi Martin

Last month, Andi was among St. Louis area kids who completed a five-day hunter education camp. The camp was held at the Henges Outdoor Education Center southwest of St. Louis.

The day camp gave the kids ample opportunity to try out different hunting weapons. They had chances to shoot .22 and .243 rifles and 20-guage shotguns. They also shot bows and arrows.

There even was a demonstration of black-powder shooting, using muzzle-loading weapons like the pioneers used.

There also were lessons in hunter safety, wildlife management and recognizing Missouri animals and birds. At the camp's end, the kids got hunter education certificates to qualify them for their state hunting licenses.

Andi is from Webster Groves and this fall will be a 5th grader at Edgar Road Elementary School.

She said, "I'm looking for a .243 rifle my dad is going to get me for my birthday in September." For her first shooting experience with her grandfather, Andi had used a .22 rifle owned by her father.

Michael Lamana

Eleven-year-old Michael Lamanna of Ballwin said the first outdoor experience he remembered also was with his grandfather.

The 5th grader at Parkway Southwest Middle School said, "He took me fishing when I was five." Michael's been fishing a lot since and he said, "I caught my limit three different times at Meramec Springs."

Another memorable outdoor experience happened last fall when he went deer hunting with his dad. He had a good time although neither he nor this father bagged a deer.

The Missouri Conservation Department holds hunter education certification classes for kids often during the year.

For instance, in July, area certification classes are scheduled at Florissant Valley Community College July 16-17; the Union, Mo., firehouse on July 27-29; at Jefferson College, July 25-29, and at St. Charles Community College July 9-10. (For more information and to register visit www.mdc.mo.gov.)

 

Tessa Hill

Twelve-year-old Tessa Hill and 15-year-old Eric Barnes come from families who take their shooting and hunting seriously.

Tessa will be a 7th grader at Parkway South Middle School in the fall. She said she went shooting with an older brother when she was seven. Her two older brothers were on competitive shooting teams sponsored by the Henges range.

Eric Barnes

She said she hopes to follow in their footsteps on the shooting team. "I like the whole YHEC experience," she said. Tessa said she plans to attend the advanced Youth Hunting Education Challenge camp at Henges in July.

But, shooting is only one of her favorite outdoor experiences. She's been horseback riding since she was eight and has two horses. "I don't show my own horses but I do show the 'lesson horses' from the place where I keep my horses," she said.

Riding in Western horsemanship competitions, she said she's won a grand championship ribbon during a competition in Washington County.

Eric Barnes will be a sophomore at Lutheran South High School this fall. He said, "I haven't been hunting yet but I'm going to do all kinds of it soon."

He said his stepfather "hunts just about everything. He's even been on an African safari." He said his family has a wide variety of guns. "We have a safe at home that's about full. My step-dad is a die-hard hunter," Eric said.

Asked about her best outdoor experience, Tessa Hall said, "Anytime I'm outside is fun." About any bad experiences, she said, "I've fallen off a horse a couple times but they were nothing to stop me."

She has a .22 rifle and bow and arrows of her own. "And when I'm done with this camp, my dad and brothers are going to take me to get my own .20-guage shotgun," she added.

Asked about his favorite outdoor experience, Michael Lamanna said, "I was hiking with my mom and her friends and we found a huge cliff that we climbed." About his experience at the Hentges day camp, Michael said he really liked the archery.

Andi Martin said her favorite Hentges camp experience was getting to shoot a .243 rifle. That's the kind she's going to get for her own now that the camp is over.

For more about local outdoor opportunities, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis.