Youth Apprentice Hunter Opportunities
The SCIF Education Department is pleased to announce its support of two youth Apprentice Hunter programs in the efforts to further protect the freedom to hunt.
The original program was inspired fourteen years ago by Bruce Keller, a dedicated Safari Club International life member. The program quickly out grew the Keller ranch and now is conducted on two great facilities reaching more than 70 young hunters per year. In an effort to protect our Hunting Heritage, SCI chapters have focused on reaching youth from non-hunting families. More than 40% of the campers who attend one of the Apprentice Hunter Camps have never hunted a big game animal.
The Midwest Apprentice Hunter Program is located in Three Rivers, MI and the Southwest Apprentice Hunter Program is located in Del Rio, Texas. Each of the programs meets or exceeds the requirements and guidelines set out by the SCIF Education Committee.
The Midwest program enrollment is limited to 10 campers (ages 11-15) per session with living arrangements within the Willow Lake Lodge where Bill & Lori Barr stay to provide 24/7 care and supervision. The lodge is owned and operated by the Thompson family and features a fifteen bed bunk house and seven individual suites with full accommodations, so guys and gals have separate housing quarters. The cost for this program is $1,200.00 per camper with each session beginning on Sunday evening and ending on Friday evening.
The Southwest program is limited to 12 campers (ages 12 – 17) per session. The living quarters are modern and set up to resemble an African village. The Indianhead ranch owners and operators, Laurent and Diane DeLegrange, are “hands-on†operators providing 24/7 care and supervision. The camper sessions begin on Sunday evening and end Saturday morning and cost $995.00 per camper.
In addition to the educational content each location offers exciting opportunities throughout the week, campers will be introduced to many new and exciting activities such as animal trapping, firearm and bow usage, taxidermy, fly tying, fly casting and fishing, orienteering, bird dog training, animal tracking, Hunter Safety Course and Certification, animal identification, scoring trophy whitetails and more. Courses will vary at each location with emphasis placed on regional opportunities.
Visit www.safaricluubfoundation.org for dates and detailed information on either program. Registration and all necessary forms are available from the web page or you can contact Doug Luger, SCIF Programs Coordinator at 520-620-1220 ext 294.
Taz Ridley, Chair - SCIF Education Committee
