WV: 2011 Outdoor Youth Challenge

ROANOKE, W.Va. – The Outdoor Youth Challenge continues to be one of the most popular attractions at West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25 at Stonewall Resort State Park in Lewis County.

“Over the past several years, the event’s planning committee has made a number of positive and innovative changes to create more hands-on opportunities for youngsters and their families to actively participate in hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor related recreational opportunities,” according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “For many of our children and young adults, this may be the only time they have the opportunity to participate in such activities.”

Young folks can choose just to participate in the activities or they can enter a competition. Any youth between 6 and 18 years of age can join in the Outdoor Youth Challenge by simply showing up at National Hunting and Fishing Day and quickly registering at the Outdoor Youth Challenge tent. The Outdoor Youth Challenge will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

“Last year (2010) was an exceptional weekend for the National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration,” Jezioro said. During the two days of the event, more than 14,000 people came through the gate of the resort and more than 950 youths signed up to participate in the events that make up the Outdoor Youth Challenge.

“I would personally like to thank the officials at Consol Energy, Inc. who, for the second straight year, is the major sponsor for the Outdoor Youth Challenge and have generously donated $10,000 to promote and enhance the events associated with it,” said Jezioro.

For more information concerning the Outdoor Youth Challenge or the National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration, contact your nearest West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) District Office or visit the DNR’s Web page at www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/nathuntfish.shtm .