Would you like to make a difference in a young person’s life?  Would you like to introduce a young person you know to the sport of archery and bow hunting?  If your answer to these questions is yes, then Kicking Bear is for you.  For those of you who may not be familiar with Kicking Bear, it is the creation of expert archer/bowhunter Ray Howell.  Howell is just shy of completing the North American Super Slam, and is a representative and spokesperson for a number of archery-related companies, along with Gander Mountain.  While all of these accomplishments are of merit, Howell doesn’t consider these to be the most important in his life.  That he reserves for helping kids.  Howell has reached countless children through the Kicking Bear Program; introducing them to the outdoors as a way to be successful, passionate about life, and providing them with a vehicle through which they can chase their dreams.

 Howell knows what this means as well as anybody would.  From a young age, Ray grew up in foster care, and worked on his foster parents’ farm.  While this provided Ray with many of the qualities that have made him who he is today, it also left him with little time to explore some of the other opportunities that life had to offer.  While in high school, a social worker took Ray bowhunting along with his own family four times during Ray’s high school years, and started him down the path that has become his life’s focus today.  That focus has led Ray all around the world on his bowhunting quests, but more importantly, has provided him with a way to focus on his main passion in life—helping kids chase their dreams through the Kicking Bear Program.  This program has created a pathway for kids who need a little direction, a role model or mentor to guide them, or something to give them inspiration in life.  How does Howell accomplish this?  By getting mentors/role models to expose children from outside of their immediate family, to the outdoors.  This exposure includes camping, archery, fishing, hiking, hunting, and other shooting sports.

 These events are open to “kids” ages 2 to 82.  The Kicking Bear Program has helped improve the lives of thousands of kids nationwide.  It has also brought communities together and has proven to help increase local archery club memberships.  Anyone bringing their own child/children along with a child/children from outside their own family will have an opportunity to win prizes which have been donated by Ray’s sponsors.  By encouraging others to reach outside their homes and become mentors, we can help break the cycle and put dreams in these kids’ hearts that will change not only their lives, but their families’ lives to come.  The Kicking Bear campouts and shoots are a great way for an adult to get involved.  Become a part of the event and sign up to be a mentor.  You don’t have to bring a kid to become a mentor.  There are many kids who attend these events who are looking for a mentor.  These events are held throughout the nation and are totally free to all participants.  The only thing needed is your participation.

 Through the efforts of M.R. James, Warren Strickland, and Glenn and Kevin Hisey, the Pope & Young Club has co-sponsored the event in Lewiston, Minnesota.

 Although the campouts and shoots are normally held on a Friday and Saturday, the event in Lewiston, Minnesota took place on a Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21.  This was due to another event being held in Iowa on Friday and Saturday which was the first annual “Rod White Gold Medal Event”.

  Ray’s youngest daughter, Tammy, got some of the younger kids involved in the game of “Simon Says”.  From the looks of things, you couldn’t tell who was having more fun—Tammy or the kids!  At the same time, other parents and mentors were involved with many other fun activities and games.  As the games were going on, there were now between 150 and 200 kids signed up for this event!  It was certainly a great turnout and the weather was very cooperative this year!  Most of the kids were either involved in playing football or were hopping around in burlap bags trying to win the sack races.  There were also many adults who were brave enough to get involved in these activities.
 

When everything settled down after everyone had their fill of a delicious supper, a kind of “hush” came over the crowd and you could feel the excitement growing because anyone who had attended one of these events before knew that this was the time that everyone had been waiting for—the traditional marshmallow fight aka summer “snowball” throwing.  I wonder if this might become a future Olympic event!  I’m not sure who handed out the first bag of marshmallows to get things started, but I do know that everyone had a blast during the one hour throw-a-thon around the gigantic bonfire!  You can’t imagine what it’s like to have 300+ people in a marshmallow fight! 

 As the sky darkened, Corey Schell, master pyrotechnician, aka “burned fingers” set up and put on a wonderful display of fireworks with the help of other members of the club.  The kids really enjoyed watching (from a distance of course) but the fun and games weren’t over quite yet.  Following the fireworks, there was a novelty shoot called the “coon” shoot where kids could shoot at two Firetacks that lit up like eyes on a raccoon target when a flashlight was shone on them.  One by one, each kid experienced the thrill of trying to place an arrow between the coon’s eyes.  Lots of prizes were given out to all the kids.  As the midnight hour approached, they trailed off to their tents, many of them for the first time sleeping in the outdoors, and you could hear them practicing their “owl” calls throughout the camping areas.  I wonder who started that!

 Early Sunday morning found many of the kids and adults warming themselves around the bonfire which had been relit due to the unusual frost that had settled in during the night.  After getting themselves warmed up, they proceeded to stand in the food line after the breakfast whistle was blown.  It’s amazing how appetites increase when you spend all day outdoors!  The kids could hardly wait for the scrambled eggs, pancakes and juice.  At the same, a giant pig was being roasted for the afternoon meal.

Following breakfast, two DNR officers came to talk to the kids about hunting and the outdoors and the importance of preserving the outdoors for generations to come.  They also talked about safety, poaching, and hunting ethics.  Then they opened it up to a question and answer session that continued until it was time for the archery safety meeting.  The DNR officers stayed and spent time with the kids and helped out with the outdoor activities.

 Ray held the safety meeting and then asked the kids how many of them had never shot a bow before.  Numerous hands went up and these kids were taken to the practice targets where they were helped by Ray and other mentors to release their first arrows.  It’s always an amazing sight to see kids’ eyes light up after they’ve hit the target.  It doesn’t matter where they hit on the target with their first shots because they will have the rest of the day and a lifetime to hone their new-found skills.

 Now it was off to the 3-D course and as the groups were divided up according to age and height, kids and mentors together were sent in two different directions as there were two 3-D courses.  You can imagine what it’s like for a kid to be holding a bow in his or her hand and staring at a giant bull moose!  Most of these kids had never seen a 3-D target much less shoot at one.  After finishing one course, they could proceed to the second one so they were certainly able to get their fill of shooting for the day.  All through the courses in the valley you could hear kids’ voices, filled with excitement, yipping and yelling after releasing their arrows.  This went on for several hours throughout the day.  There was even a novelty shoot where kids could fling arrows at a large 3-D buffalo target and whoever hit the right spot would win giant candy bars and gift certificates provided by Gander Mountain.  

There were also many competitions going on during the day. One of special mention took place between a group of boys whose fearless leader was Tyler Bagstad aka “Baggie” and a group of girls nicknamed the Hotshot Sisters led by Danniela Nichols.  This competition was a big loss for the boys (who argued that it was a tie) but who then had to do 25 pushups, 25 sit-ups, and 25 jumping jacks right on the 3-D course due to losing to the girls.  At the end of the 3-D shooting when everyone had gathered for the awards and prizes, Danniela made the boys repeat the whole process because they were not smart enough to not make the same bet twice with the girls—that they could outshoot them.  This time the boys had to do 50 of each which took place in front of the entire crowd!   They all showed great sportsmanship even while being humiliated by the girls.  I wonder how this competition will turn out next year. 

 The afternoon meal was incredible.  Everyone had their fill of the tastiest pig ever roasted!  There were also lots of other food choices such as chicken, turkey, and venison steak along with a variety of other items and desserts.  A big thank you to all the wives and other volunteers who made this happen! 

 Ray then introduced Doug Besherse from Tennessee who has attended and helped at several other Kicking Bear events.  Doug stood in front of the crowd and told about his experiences in Baghdad last year and how rewarding it was to work with members of our military.  Doug had been invited to put on an archery event for the soldiers and was more than willing to volunteer his time.  He told the kids how lucky we were to be born in America and that they had the opportunity to follow whatever dreams they wanted to follow because of what our military continues to do for us to keep our freedom.  After Doug’s talk, he invited anyone who had been in the military to come up and introduce themselves.  Several of the mentors who were there to help the kids were involved with the military.  It caused more than a few tears when they told where and when they had served and how proud they were to be Americans!

 Ray then gave a talk on the importance of being a mentor.  He told about his own personal experiences growing up and how one person changed his life by taking him into the outdoors just a few times.  He said that everyone there had the same opportunity to help change the lives of the kids who need help and the quality of the kids’ families’ lives to come by using the outdoors as a tool.  He also let the kids know that no matter how tough it gets, whether it’s in school, sports, and especially in their family, to never, never, never give up.  He said you’re not a failure until you give up and anytime you’re on the edge, you always have your heavenly Father to talk to and He will guide you through the difficult times.  Then he very humbly thanked the members of the Lewiston Sportsmen’s Club, the Pope & Young Club, and the many parents and mentors for making this event such a success and for helping to put true dreams in these kids’ hearts.

 Approximately 55% of all the kids in attendance were from broken homes which is a perfect mix for families and underprivileged kids at our Kicking Bear events. 

Before handing out prizes it was asked in front of the crowd how many kids wanted to have a mentor in their life.  Lots of hands went up. As it turned out, there were plenty of mentors willing to volunteer their time throughout the year to help these kids experience the outdoors with them.  

 This year several other organizations have adopted the Kicking Bear Program such as the Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association.  One of their goals is to create more opportunities for youth and family involvement in their organization and that is why WBH will be co-sponsoring their first of many Kicking Bear events in their state this year on Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8 co-hosted by Rattlesnake Ridge Outfitters in Holmen, Wisconsin.