I just had to let you know how much fun my grandsons Cohl and Cameron and I had at the Kicking Bear camp on August 6 and 7. This was truly a learning experience for us all. I know now what you meant when you asked the mentors and parents to let you know about their experiences.

I’d like to share one of my experiences with you. It was Friday night. I was helping out on the shooting line when Cindy Ford asked if I could help two young girls who had never shot a bow before. The older girl was probably 11 or 12 years old. She didn’t smile or say a word. I showed her how to hold the bow and release an arrow. The first two arrows hit the dirt. The look on her face was like she wished she were in some other place. However, with a few corrections, her next arrow hit the bale. Wow—what a change! She had a smile from ear to ear. After she shot a few more arrows, I asked the younger girl, who was maybe three or four years old if she’d like to try to shoot the bow. She nodded her head yes.

It took a while, but she finally hit the bale. She turned around and gave me the biggest thank you smile! Man what a feeling! To top that off, their Mom came over and said, “Boy, you sure are good with kids!” I thought—who me?

The girl’s Mom and I talked for a while and she told me that she had 10 kids, but could only bring the two girls. I didn’t get to see them again until Saturday afternoon at the prize drawing. The younger one came over and sat by me on the grass. I asked her if she was having a good time and she said she was. Then I asked her if she had hit any of the 3-D targets out on the course and she said, “Sometimes my arrow zinged over the top and sometimes it zinged underneath”. What a sweetheart!

The prize drawing was nearly over and I knew neither of these girls had won anything, so I asked the younger one if she would like to take the video home that I had won and she said, “We don’t have movies at home”. She asked me if I had movies at home and I told her I have a few. Then I noticed their Mom was watching, so I asked her if it was OK for the girls to have this video about turkey hunting and their Mom said, “Well thank you very much, but we don’t have a TV”. About that time, Ray asked if there were any kids that hadn’t won anything yet to come up and get some prizes. I got to see that big smile again on the little girl’s face!

I’d like to thank you very much Ray, for not only what you do for the kids, but for giving me the opportunity to share some of those wonderful feelings of giving and sharing instead of taking and receiving. Thanks again.

Your friend,

Bob Borowiak, Hunter