PHOTO
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, July 6, 2004 - 16
0
By Trevor Campbell Daily Photo Editor
a
Sidney Ley, 9 (left), and
eagan George, 7
right), recite the
unter's pledge during
a class on June 18,
2004. The hunter's
pledge contains the
iualities that a
espectful and moral
.
x.
RIGHT: Camp founder Te
Nugent demonstrates I
three campers who ha
never used a bow an
arrow, how to properl
shoot. Before every sho
he pauses and says
prayer to guide the fligi
,
A camper, wearing goggles that simulate drunkeness, attempts to complete an obstacle course. Because the first
effect of alcohol Is the inability to detect intoxication, the optics allow the wearer to experience the true effects of
alcohol on the body.
LEFT: Campers are
taught important skills
such as compass
navigation to prevent
becoming dangerously
lost in an unfamiliar
location. BELOW: Camp
instructor Bill Anderson
wears a bite sleeve to
demonstrate the attack
power of drug dog
Chaos. Chaos is a full-
fledged officer of the
survey of college students was taken, ask-
ing to list the top five things they associate
with the word "hunter." The top two
esponses were alcohol and orange.
What does this say about the average hunter?
An image of a flamboyant, drunken yahoo
embossed into their brain.
Only 10 percent of the U.S. population hunts.
Inversely, only 10 percent are anti-hunters. This
leaves 80 percent of U.S. citizens who are neutral on
the subject of hunting - a group whose easily
swayed minds are being bombarded with these dam-
aging images of hunters.
In order to combat this negative perception, the Ted
Nugent Kamp for Kids at the Sleeper State Park in
Caseville, Michigan teaches young hunters to present
the proper image for the public eye. Many people see
the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, as a maniacal
rock 'n' roll guru and animal slaughterer, but they
don't know the half of it. Fifteen years ago, the guitar
legend founded his camp to instill life-long morals
into the minds of young children.
The main premise of the camp is to start the
kids on the right path in life, as well as in the sport
of hunting. The campers have a strict agenda,
loaded with classes teaching important skills and
subjects such as firearm safety, the effects of
drugs and alcohol, boating safety and first aid. At
7 a.m. the kids line up at the flag pole for the
Pledge of Allegiance. Promptly after adjourning
from breakfast, classes begin and lessons are
learned.
Along with teaching morals and safety, there is
an underlying anti-drug and alcohol message
inherent in the camp. In one class, the kids wear
goggles that simulate the body's reaction after
consuming three alcoholic drinks and walk
through an obstacle course. The results are most
definitely memorable. Nugent, a strong supporter
of the anti-drug campaign DARE, spoke strongly
on the topic during his speech to the campers.
Throughout the camp, the instructors and coun-
selors alike attempt to mold their minds into the
shape of a solid and respecting citizen before their
departure of the camp. With stronger morals and a
more informed outlook on the world, the camp hopes
to send them off with their parents in dreams, that
they will make a difference in the world, help guide
along their friends and set them all on the right path
through life.
Regardless of how much these campers learn
about hunting or life, camp director Chuck
Buzzy, reminds the kids upon their arrival of the
true purpose of the camp. "All you should leave
are your footprints, and all you should take away
are memories."
*I