For the fourth year, Project Appleseed has been a part of the Constitutional Champions Camp in Colorado Springs. This camp teaches 2-6 graders about the Constitution and our nation's founders in a hands-on manner, using reenactors and activities to reveal history in a real way. You can start one or be a part of one in your area: http://www.constitutionchampions.org/
Two of our instructors, JustJax and ColoradoBoots, are with the camp all week telling the strikes and dangerous old men/women stories as well as running other activities. This year the strikes were told to 132 people including both kids and adults.
On Tuesday, June 16, we took our ever-popular pellet line where the importance of the role of marksmanship in our founding was hammered home. In the session before us, they riled up the kids about those pesky Redcoats so they were pretty enthusiastic by the time they reached us.
Working the pellet line: oneshot_onehole, ColoradoBoots, MedicDan, Prone to Knit and camp helpers Bill, David (ColoradoBoot's son), Sonya, Irene and Calvin. It was very cool to hear David and Calvin (who has attended several Appleseeds) tell dangerous old men stories to the waiting kids.
We had many kids that had never fired anything before and some expressed fear which quickly dried up once they were coached through their first shot. One particularly fine success story came from ColoradoBoots (Elizabeth) - she had a little girl that was in tears and very afraid so Elizabeth asked her to help Elizabeth make a shot. Then the little girl was coached through a first shot, happily making the remaining shots, all smiles.
Many parents came by to watch their children and expressed gratitude at the lessons of safety we instilled and helping their children get over the fear. One man has wanted his kids to learn to shoot and has been interested in Appleseed for awhile. As he watched his children on the line, he decided they are now old enough to learn as they handled themselves well and he intends to take his family to a shoot soon.
From the photographer:
These great and dedicated instructors make this popular event successful and safe. As you'll see from the pictures, there's a great deal of individual attention on the firing line. Each section of campers includes about 20 plus the mentors. The firing line is set up for 10 shooters at a time. So, some of the younger staff members either help on the line or take care of the other half of the section while half are firing. I was a pistol instructor during summer training for the USAFA basic cadets in 1962 and also have been on ranges for pistol requalification a number of years, so I can attest to the quality training provided by these instructors. -- Jimmie Butler
More pictures.
More.
This is the staff picture. A great big thank you to the Champ's camp staff that came to help.
Left to right:
oneshot_onehole, Prone to Knit, MedicDan, ColoradoBoots, David, Irene, Sonya, Calvin and Bill.
A special mention of the family in this picture, left to right, positions 1, 3, 5 and 6. This family has been to multiple Appleseed events. They have taken their Boy Scout troop down to the Whittington Center for special shoots. Mom, number 5, is an extremely talented seamstress, lending her skills to making Revolutionary War outfits, but I wouldn't doubt that the daughter made the one she is wearing. This family has stepped up multiple times when we've needed help, at this camp and at the CHEC Conference we did several years ago. They are tops in our book!
Great job! You exemplify what great American's are about! Best regards, Two Wolves :cool2:
Excellent! Wish I could have been there. I had forgotten about the one I helped with years ago. Great time, the youngsters are always wonderful!