Minnesota youths enjoyed a sunny day of shooting and fishing at the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s 12th Annual Get Youth Outdoors Day on Sept. 8. 

Hosted by the USA and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, 77 kids participated in archery, backyard fishing games, rifle and sporting clays shooting at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays, Inc. 

Roofers Local 96 Business Manager Mark Conroy brought his grandkids and enjoyed seeing their successes. 

“My granddaughter was all fired up as she broke a clay,” Conroy said. “She’s 10 years old and just a tiny little thing. Volunteers Kinsey and Mona Robinson worked really well with the new shooters, and they were able to get her to break a clay. All of us were so excited. The small accomplishments like hitting the target with a bow or with the .22 let youths see what they can do and built a little confidence.”

The event was part of a series of free, community-based youth outreach activities organized under Work Boots on the Ground—the USA’s flagship conservation program. Get Youth Outdoors Day encourages families to spend time outdoors together and learn new skills.

Without this event, many youths would not be introduced to the outdoors, according to Assistant to the International President of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Jordan “Gig” Ritenour.

“What was really cool is that we had a young man from Mexico and a young man from Germany that were foreign exchange students,” he said. “Some of the kids had never shot a gun before. It was interesting and enjoyable to see them shooting for the first time and understand the safety requirements.”

Local union volunteers trained in firearms safety provided hands-on instructions to youths in attendance. 

“It was really rewarding to give them some guidance, see them make adjustments and watch them break clays,” Conroy said. “You can see the light go on. As they walked out of that box after they broke a couple, there were a lot of smiles. The biggest thing of the day was to see all of the smiles of the youths regardless of what level or what events they were participating in.”

Ritenour explained why it is important for union members to get involved in youth events.

“It definitely puts unions themselves in a different light,” he said. “It lets people see that there’s more to a union than just being a negotiator. It puts us in a light where folks see the good things that we do.”

Conroy made special memories with his family during Get Youth Outdoors Day. 

“To be able to share some of my interests with my grandkids is incredible,” he said. “I told my grandsons, ‘you know what my favorite part about this is? We get to spend time together.’ What more can you ask for?”