Raising money for scouting is important to help boys participate, according to Kevin Bordon, Vicksburg Boy Scout Troop 251’s scoutmaster. It costs approximately $3,800 for each boy to complete a year of scouting. Some is paid by the individual and the rest by the troop.
Other bigger costs include the Boy Scout cabin on Barton Lake which needs a new roof, according to the volunteers who help keep the cabin in top condition.
Many events were planned for the 75th anniversary of scouting in Vicksburg this year, but few were for raising money, Bordon said. To fill the gap, a “sporting clays” shoot and gun raffle will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Gun River Conservation Club in Plainwell.
Sporting Clays is a challenging clay target game designed to simulate field shooting. The sport originated in England in the early 1900s as practice to hone the hunter’s skills. On a sporting clays course, shooters are presented with a wide variety of targets that duplicate the flight path of game birds, such as flushing, crossing, incoming and other angling shots. In the 1980s, sporting clays came to the United States.
A raffle of a VersaMax shotgun, Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifle, Dave Ruimveld limited edition artwork, and a Steve Gettle limited edition signed photograph will be held during the noon lunch break. Tickets are $10 each for a chance to win.
Described by some as “golf with a shotgun,” sporting clays has quickly become one of the top participation sports in the country, said Kip Young, assistant scoutmaster. At the Aug. 22 event, tickets to shoot are $75 per person, with teams of four costing $300. The advance tickets are available from Young at 269-998-3020 or from any of the other scoutmasters. Registration is online at www.troop251.eventbrite.com.
The funds raised will go toward helping youth participate in scouting, including going to summer camp, Young said. It will also help to purchase equipment and gear for growing the Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop. There are currently 64 cub scouts and 34 boy scouts active in 251, with over 800 hours of service donated so far in 2015. Eight scouts are actively working on their Eagle Scout rank, according to Bordon.
“Community engagement is what scouting is all about,” Young said as he made a pitch to the Vicksburg Rotary Club. The scout cabin on Barton Lake is in need of a new roof and some other upgrades. The Rotary Club and other members of the community helped to build and pay for the original cabin in 1948. Now it’s time for some costly repairs. Having the cabin is very important to retain scouts, as the kids get to be outside, enjoy and learn about nature, then sleep inside around the stone fireplace, he told the club.