Outdoor Skills Challenge Sets Participation Record at National Hunting and Fishing Days 

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Outdoor Skills Challenge was one of the most popular attractions and the focal point of the National Hunting and Fishing Days Celebration held Sept. 25-26 at Stonewall Resort State Park, according to Frank Jezioro, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. This event encompassed the traditional Outdoor Youth Challenge and added adult participation. This program is designed to give adults and youths (ages 6 – 18) a more creative hands-on approach in participating in hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation-related activities.

“This year’s event was a hallmark in youth participation, with 944 participants signed up for the Outdoor Skills Challenge,” Jezioro said. “This was a 114 percent increase from last year’s attendance. For some youngsters, participating in the Outdoor Challenge may be the only opportunity they will have to be exposed to these fun and exciting outdoor activities. In this regard, the Challenge has become one of the largest and most important venues in the state to attract young people to our hunting and fishing heritage.”

There were 23 separate events that made up the Outdoor Skills Challenge, staffed by DNR personnel from the Wildlife Resources, Law Enforcement and Parks sections, along with many other dedicated volunteers. Youth needed only to complete 10 of these events to be eligible to win prizes; however, prizes were not the primary focus. The goal of the weekend was to provide an opportunity for youngsters and adults to learn new skills and generate an interest in the outdoors that will last a lifetime. This was best exemplified by the awarding of Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Licenses, and scholarships to allow youth participants to attend Junior and Senior Conservation Camps in 2011.

An event of this size is only possible with the help of numerous sponsors and volunteers. One of the main reasons this event was such a success this year was the inclusion of two new sponsors –CONSOL Energy, Inc. with a donation of $10,000, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation with a donation of $30,000. In addition, CONSOL is donating a gun signed by both Gen. Chuck Yeager and Gov. Joe Manchin to be auctioned off at the Governor’s One Shot Whitetail Hunt in December, with the proceeds going to the Outdoor Skills Challenge.

Many sponsors have helped throughout the years, including the NRA Foundation, Jerry’s Sporting Goods, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Wal-Mart, Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs, the Weatherby Foundation, Cabela’s, Landmark Forestry and Shentel. Organizations which had volunteers actively involved in the various events associated with the Outdoor Skills Challenge included the National Wild Turkey Federation, the West Virginia Bowhunters Association, the West Virginia Muzzleloader Association, the Putnam County Gun Club and the West Virginia Hunter Education Association.

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