Berkshire Profile: Adams Outdoorsmen For Youth
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| Adams Outdoorsmen For Youth President Wayne Tinney during a 2006 NBCC fishing derby at Reynold's Pond. [Photo by Sue Bush] |
Adams - "We all think that we need to have things to do for the kids, and most kids really like the outdoors," said Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth president Wayne Tinney. "We want to show kids the good things in life."
To that end, the 31-year-old non-profit organization plans to host its' largest annual fundraiser, a home-made, buffet style all-you-can-eat game supper, for 5 p.m. Sat. March 3, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles hall on Curran Highway. The meal is sold out.
Prizes Needed
<L2>During the meal, a Chinese auction and raffles are held to generate additional funds, and the group is seeking donations for the auction and raffle. Donations should be appropriate for outdoor, camping, or sports ventures; in 2006, an abundant auction prize list included a kayak, a chartered bass fishing trip for four, a handmade quilt, and dozens of additional items.
Those willing to donate items to the supper auction/raffle are asked to contact Michael Cutler at 413-743-9465. Items may be dropped off at Cutler's 1 Meadow St., Adams, residence or pick-up may be arranged.
"I Do Know It Will Be Good"
Tinney offered tantalizing hints about this year's supper menu. Plans include serving three types of fish, trout, salmon and smelt, as well as meats such as bear and deer.
"Usually there's a deer roast or deer burritos, things like that," he said. "I don't know exactly what's being planned for this year but I do know it will be good. It always is."
The menu prepared by the game supper "chefs" is unlikely to be hum-drum; last year's meal, cooked under the direction of Cheshire resident Michael Kruszyna, stretched across very long tables and delivered cuisine such as elk cordon blue and pheasant divan. The meal includes salad, rolls, two types of soup or stew, and a dessert buffet is made up of homemade cakes and pies.<R3>
Keep The Kids Involved
The group was founded by town resident James "Jimmy" Carpenter, who also served as the organization's first president. The founding contingent included Wayne Lillie, Paul Comeau, Joseph LaBonte. Robert Lucyznski and Joseph DeLorey. Nearly all of the founding members have watched their own children grow into adulthood and away from youth programs but many remain active with the group, Tinney said. Meetings occur on a monthly basis, and there are just over 130 "family members," according to 2006 membership information.
"We've always believed it is important to keep the group going and keep the kids involved," Tinney said.
Among the youth-focused activities and events offered by the group are ice-fishing derbies [a 2007 derby was cancelled earlier this year due to a lack of ice], a well-attended spring fishing derby held in conjunction with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the Berkshire League of Sportsmen, and another very popular youth fishing derby usually held in late June. Financial scholarships are provided to youth interested in attending sports camps and a state-sponsored conservation camp, and education-focused <L4>scholarships are offered to Berkshire area high school seniors.
Outdoor Opportunity
Most events deliver more than a sporting venue. For example, the 2006 NBCC fishing derby at Reynold's Pond, Cheshire, paired elementary-school-aged youth with experienced fishermen who volunteered for the event. The young "fishermen" were taught to bait hooks, cast a line, and were treated to a "cook-out" style lunch.
The derby organizers provided all the fishing equipment and bait and the NBCC provided transportation to the event.
The game supper takes days of preparation and hours of cooking in part because the dinner often draws nearly 300 diners who usually take full advantage of the "all you can eat" opportunity. Hunters donate the wild game meats cooked for the meal and the cooking, serving, and clean-up crews are all volunteer and include numerous area youth.<R5>
"For some kids, the events we offer are the only experience of this type that they get," Tinney said. "We want to be sure the kids can keep having these experiences."
Additional information about the Adams Outdoorsmen For Youth may be acquired by writing Tinney at Adams Outdoorsmen For Youth, P.O. Box 122, Adams, MA 01220.
