King George Middle School Outdoor
Club
Sponsors: Mark Fike, Mike Woods, VDGIF K-9 Officer Frank Spuchesi
Background: During the 2010-2011 school
year, a number of students approached Mark Fike and expressed interest in the
outdoors. The same core group of five students (with some additional guests)
met informally during lunch throughout the year to discuss hunting and fishing.
Senior Conservation Police Officer Frank Spuchesi came as a guest speaker
during hunting season to talk to the students about hunting safety and ethics.
The group sometimes ate wild game prepared by their family or by Mark Fike
during lunch. Interest grew and Senior CPO Spuchesi suggested a club be
started.
Purpose: The purpose of the outdoor club
is to serve students at King George Middle School who have an interest in the
outdoors or would like to learn about the outdoors to see if they would be
interested in pursuing it as a hobby or pastime. Specifically the sponsors will
educate interested students in topics dealing with hunting, fishing, shooting
and other outdoors related topics as expressed interest is brought to the
attention of the sponsors. There are other clubs like this in the state but
this is the first one in our immediate area.
Goals: Our goals are: 1- To increase
the awareness and interest in the outdoor traditions to include hunting,
fishing and shooting in a safe and ethical manner. 2- Encourage
students to get outside and experience these activities and learn about their
environment and how consumptive pursuits such as hunting and fishing play a
historic and significant role in our lives.
Activities to attain our goals: Each month on the “7th
Day Rotation” we are afforded the opportunity to meet with students who are
signed up for the Outdoors Club. Sponsors will present topics of interest to
the students and encourage discussion and questions to educate them. As the
club grows we plan to ask guest speakers to come. Topics that may be covered
include the following:
Hunting
Finding
deer on a piece of property Bowhunting
strategies
Archery
basics Hunting
big bucks
Planting
food plots for wildlife Aging
deer with jawbones
Cooking
venison and game Treestand
placement and safety
Duck
hunting tactics Small
game tips
Choosing
a firearm that fits Camo
and ground blinds
Shot
placement Shoot/Don’t
shoot scenarios
Whitetail
biology and the rut Dressing
to stay warm
Fishing
Successful
pond fishing Casting techniques w/ different
reels
Fly
casting and fly tying Tying knots & spooling reels w/
line
Catfish
tactics on the Rapp Pond management
Reading
a river Using a fish finder
Seasonal
fisheries changes Bass fishing the Potomac
Lure
tune up
Additionally,
Mark Fike began an after school sub group of the club for those interested.
Conservation Police Officer Frank Spuchesi (Now promoted to K-9 Officer) has
offered to be a regular part of this group as part of his duties. This group
will be able to go more in depth with discussion and guest speakers as there
will be more time available after school. Mike Woods will also participate. The sub group may, with administration and
parent permission, be able to participate in field activities or events off
school grounds and after school hours. Such events may include assisting in the
disabled veterans hunt in December, assisting in the youth hunt in December,
assisting in the Youth Fishing Day in May, and any other events that would be
educational and a service to others in the community. Fishing trips and
possibly a rabbit hunt may be coordinated for select students but would not be
affiliated with the school if such trips occur.
Finally,
students will be encouraged to write about their experiences in the great
outdoors and be published in the local newspaper or Chesapeake Angler / Hunter magazine. This will motive kids to write
and read.
Notes: The club will be receiving a
membership to North American Fishing Club and North American Hunting Club. Virginia Game and Fish magazine has
offered a full year of magazines as a donation to the club as well. The club
welcomes such donations to help educate our youth.
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