Project Appleseed

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What a weekend!  Twenty-six students looked at the weather forecast Saturday morning, saw a 90% chance of thunderstorms, and thought "this will be SO worth it!"  (Or "hey, that means a 10% chance of no thunderstorms!"--they are an optimistic lot!     )

It paid off.  The weather held off on Saturday and we saw some fantastic improvement in marksmanship and some great history. 

Sunday the weather was spottier--if you call sideways rain "spotty"--but everyone showed not just persistence but downright "gumption".  Well done!   And you should have seen the smiles coming back from the KD range after ringing steel at 200 yards with .223 and .308 rifles, showing once again "this stuff works!"

• We had thirteen Boy Scouts from Troop 110 travel from Indiana to spend their weekend with us! 
• We had repeat Appleseeders show up bearing pop-up canopies!
  
• We had two new Riflemen--congratulations Adam and Brad!
• We had one Rifleman requalify--well done, Bob!
• We had four other students were within striking distance of a Rifleman score, in the 190s and as close as 208!
• We had fantastic tales of American heritage, and receptive students!
• Students came early and stayed late to help with set up and tear down!
• Brenda ("Snipette") took a Blue Hat and joined AppleCore!
• Zazzles really showed her stuff Saturday, instructing the entire day!
• A fantastic host range with the Watervliet Rod and Gun Club--more than 150 Appleseeders have come through their gate--and the 4-H Straight Shooters Club provided a great hot lunch each day and even morning coffee and doughnuts!
• It was great to hear the number of students saying they plan on seeing us again at the next event (which by the way is in Niles, at the Bend of the River Conservation Club, October 18-19.  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/niles-mi-appleseed-october-18-19-2014-tickets-10224027341 )
  

Photos are up on Facebook at the following link, and I will post some to the thread in the next day or two (I will be on the road, will post as I can):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.586984591411714.1073741855.240556109387899&type=1

Thank you all again--students and instructors alike.  You all made my weekend, and I hope to see you again soon. 

Now...pictures?  Comments?  Thoughts?  Post up!

Oz

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the instructors for their time.  I know they weren't enjoying all the rain and wind anymore than we were.

So Thank You. 

I wasn't able to qualify for my patch this time (it was my first Appleseed) but I hope to do so at the next one.  Or at least feel good enough about my shooting to have some of my AQTs scored.    

What paper took our pictures on Sunday?

Since   

They are all up here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.586984591411714.1073741855.240556109387899&type=1


But as a preview





Welcome to the fold

CONGRAtULATIONS ADAM

And CONGRATULATIONS BRAD

Watch for a story about the Watervliet Appleseed in the Tri-City Record, Watervliet, MI.  http://tricityrecord.com/

Thanks to Jon for coming out to cover the story.

Here's a riddle -- What's the most exhausting but the most refreshing way to spend a weekend?

Answer:  An Appleseed with high attendance, only a few instructors, cold weather, sideways rain and lots of enthusiastic Boy Scouts and other attendees!

Seriously...I was super tired at the end but was energized by the enthusiasm, improving marksmanship, achievements of our newly minted Riflemen and the good fellowship at breaks and at history.  Also, as Oz said, nothing like ringing steel at 200 with centerfires or running a team fun shoot events (Dueling Tree!  Run n Gun!  Strategy and Communication!) to get people's energy back up.

Lots of people knocking on the door of honing their marksmanship.  Really enjoyed your attention and questions during the history sections.  Come back and join us at Niles in October!

Has SteelThunder shrunk in all that rain

This is October 2012



September 2014



Or maybe the Wicked Warlord of the West is just melting....


number6

Someone else pointed that out. And it's not like I am short to start off with. I am 5'7", so this group of instructors is just extremely tall! and yes in 2 years she has grown like a weed!!!

Great weekend everyone! I look forward to working with all of you again. and wow have I grown

What a GREAT Exhausting, Wet, Cold, Warm weekend!  It was so much fun to be back among friends (Oz, Zazzles and Bruce) and see some familiar faces and make some new friends- (Rascal, ITB, Steel Thunder and Daddy-O) to name a few!  I am so looking forward to helping out with such a great organization!!

Stuff I learned this weekend-

When standing, it's really important to grab the gun by the very end to pull it up to your shoulder-  It get's the gun higher (Thanks ITB) That was a great tip... and really helped.

When Standing-  Move your support arm into the body-  It helps you be more steady (Thanks Rascal!)  That helped me be more steady... A TON more steady!

A billion reminders to NOT grip the rifle with the support hand... thanks EVERYONE!  I will remember.. I will remember.... I will remember    http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/Smileys/newsmileys/DeadHorse.gif

This is my second "seed" and the first one was so much info overload, but I really did improve between 1 and 2.  I put a bunch of stuff into action from the first seed, and I'm so excited to keep improving my skills.  So close to rifleman... Looking forward to Niles... Lucky number 3?   

Shout out to Zazzles-  Great Job leading this weekend!  You are a very special young lady!  Thanks for being a great example!!   

Instructors-  you all did a terrific job!  I so appreciate the help, coaching, reminders and ALL you do to make it such an amazing weekend!  THANK YOU!!

Wanna laugh?-  I woke up this morning reciting the 6 safety rules...  it's official... I'm addicted!
See ya'll soon! (Can't Wait!!)   

Good morning all,

What a cold, raining,...... wonderful weekend!!!! I didn't think it possible to have that much fun while being poured on and blown away with the wind.......I spoke to several troop boys and they had a fantastic time even in these conditions. Many of the scouts had very little shooting experience but after the weekend many were talking about WHEN IS THE NEXT APPLESEED. I'm sure I'll have a few at the Niles event next month. Some have shown a great deal of persistency to get the RIFLEMAN patch.

Also, NICE JOB ZAZZLES!!!!!!

THANK YOU to everyone that made the event possible. I am a firm believer that if we get our youth interested in AS at a young age these small roots will grow.

Have a great week everyone, it was great to see you all again!!!!!

Regards,
Daddy O

           

A few more pics:

I'm thinking about heading up to the Twin Lake shoot in October, but when is the Winterseed at Watervliet happening, again?

Quote from: EEEE on September 25, 2014, 02:33:15 PM
I'm thinking about heading up to the Twin Lake shoot in October, but when is the Winterseed at Watervliet happening, again?

EEEE, the Winterseed at Watervliet will be Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2015.  I don't believe it is on the sign up system yet but the date is reserved with the range. 

Say hi to the missus and I hope your daughter is able to attend your next event!

Oz

I checked with the newspaper - the Appleseed article will be in next week's Tri-City Record.  It is a once a week publication.  Print hits the stand on Thursday and hits on-line on Friday.  We'll have to wait a little longer.  I'll post when it is up on Friday.

The Appleseed article did not make this week's paper.  I have been advised it should be in next week.  Have patience!   

Thanks for letting us know!  All of my web-enabled devices are now autocompleting tricityrecord.com ...   

The Article in the Tri-City Record is up.

Here is the direct link:
http://tricityrecord.com/index.php?action=issue&st=1412834400&isn=41

Starts on the front page and finishes on page 12.

Great story!   .

Thank you for turning Jon onto our event!