“A Call To Arms” Shooters’ Weekend 2010

By Jay M. Woodward , Pony Express Editor

June 4-6 marked the 2010 NNED Shooting Sport and Spirit Challenge Weekend, held at the Pemi Valley Fish and Game Club in Holderness, New Hampshire. This year’s event, saw fifteen boys and as many Commanders come out for a fun weekend of shooting various types of guns, camping, fellowship, and time to draw closer to Christ. It is also a time for real mentoring, as men get to spend quality time with boys by giving them hands-on instruction on how to safely use a firearm, and have fun in the process! Moreover, the smell of gunpowder has been proven to attract boys, especially the older ones in Adventure and Expedition Rangers, who were old enough and met the requirements to attend.

Friday evening saw boys and leaders put up their tents and set up their campsites, preparing for the day that was to come on Saturday, which was up and at ‘em first thing in the morning! Following breakfast and morning devotion, and an overview of the day’s events from District Director Jerry Love, it was time to shoot! Boys were divided into three patrols of five in order to make the activities more orderly. There were several different shooting activities involving different types of firearms. Range Officer Dale Bishop instructed on how to use AK47’s, Commander’s Ken Beaufort and Rick Philbrick ran the small bore rifle venue, Commanders Bruce “Moose Call” Paquette and Sid “Wooly Bear” Bean instructed on Black Powder Rifles, a staple of FCF, and Commander Bruce also oversaw the Skeet Shooting Range, and dished out the clay pigeons for the boys to shoot at, with a little help from Commander Tim “Red Oak” Hatch’s son Jessie! In keeping tradition with the Ranger philosophy of leaving places better than before they came, boys cleaned up after each event, picking up the many clay pigeon fragments and shells that were on the ground after all the shooting!

Also, there was a special guest: Ken Allen from Sig Sauer Arms in Epping, NH, who is also a Conservation Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, who came and gave instruction on handguns, and provided boys with hands-on training with Sig .229 handguns. He also gave each boy and leader a Sig Sauer ball cap and Sig Sauer catalogues. Ken enjoyed working with Rangers, and his presence was greatly appreciated!

Following an exciting day of shooting, it was time for dinner. Commander Jerry had just the meal for hungry boys and men: His own secret-recipe chili, followed by camp-made apple and rhubarb pies by Commanders Gary Ladieu and Jim Archmoody, and a scrumptious dessert of hot peach dump-cake and ice cream by Ryley Paquette. In Commander Jerry’s words, the secret recipe chili was “the Colonel and I’s Secret.” Fred Allen, the past President of the Pemi Valley Fish and Game Club, was present for the dinner, and Commander Jerry presented him with a special token of appreciation for all of his support of Shooter’s Weekend: a special Lewis and Clark Commemorative Coin Collection, a fitting gift for Fred, who enjoys telling stories of Lewis and Clark’s Expedition, including that very evening, sharing with several interested leaders!

The most important part of the weekend, however, came at the Saturday evening Council Fire, where Commander Jerry gave a devotion and opened up his heart to the boys and men about several issues that are of great importance to them in today’s world of chaos, and gave boys the opportunity to openly discuss and share. The Holy Spirit’s fire was present that evening, warming the hearts of boys and men, who cried out to God and prayed for one another. Indeed, God moved in the hearts of those who gathered around the campfire!

The next morning, following breakfast and a devotion from Commander Jerry, it was time to pack up and go, bringing a great conclusion to a great Shooter’s Weekend!

Indeed, God truly blessed the Rangers who were present that weekend, from the beautiful weather and safe shooting to the great food and fellowship. God was honored, and He happily returned the favor! Hats off to all the boys and leaders who made Shooter’s Weekend 2010 a great success!

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