Not everyone is lucky enough to be born into an NRA Family, but all Americans have the right to learn how to shoot and hunt safely...but that's kind of tough to do without a knowledgeable mentor. Today, we've learned that an organization called Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors is working to ensure that the next generation has the support they need to enjoy their birthright. What's more, they just received a $10,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to help make that happen.
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors is an organization that has spent the last 18 years finding qualified and caring mentors for at-risk juniors, and RMEF has been there to help them every step of the way as one of the first sponsors. Last fall, Pass It On created a new program, called the Shooting Sports Outreach Program, and it's designed to introduce juniors who enjoy trapshooting to the sport of hunting. RMEF's generous grant is going directly to that Shooting Sports Outreach Program.
“We were able to organize 89 different hunts, engaging over 220 youth shooting athletes from 44 different Kansas schools,” stated Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors. “With the support of organizations like RMEF, organizations that are leading the R3 effort nationwide, we are looking forward to piloting this same program in Iowa this coming fall.”
Brittany Waldman, Director of Field Operations commented, “between the Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National High School Clay Target League, there are more than 40,000 high school student-athletes participating in trap shooting nationwide. The Shooting Sports Outreach Program aims to provide hunting and fishing opportunities to as many of these youth as possible. Almost all of these youths have taken hunter safety, and have learned one of the basic skills needed to hunt. Our goal is to increase their interest and motivation to hunt by providing as many different hunting opportunities as we possibly can.”
“Ensuring the future of our hunting heritage is core to our mission and vital to generating funding for ongoing and future conservation work,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “We are proud to support Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors and salute them for their dedication to engaging youth in hunting and shooting sports.”
To learn more about Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. please visit their website at http://www.outdoormentors.org
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