The sights of spring were all around—flowers blooming, birds singing and excited scouts everywhere! It was a perfect day to kick off our 2004 event season at Cherry Ridge Range. We were proud once again to host hundreds of scouts and troop leaders from all over New Jersey (and New York City too) for our action-packed instructional fun shoot. 

Each year we look forward to mentoring our scouts in the shooting sports, but we haven’t as yet figured out which discipline is their favorite—bustin’ the clay birds, clanging the metal plates or smokin’ the black powder muzzle loaders! One thing we have figured out—they like to make a lot of noise! Our scouts quickly mastered the skills taught to them by our experienced volunteer instructors. Every scout soon had a target worthy of framing!

The day was busy from start to finish, but it ran like a well-oiled machine. Our Range Coordinators are responsible for fine tuning the shooting sessions under the guidance of Mike Bodner, Events Co-Chair. They call the line, schlep supplies, watch timing and entertain the scouts in between shots. THANKS to George Lees, Dave Millard, Jeff Ziolkowski, Steve Potts and Peter Hefferan. Pete went the extra mile by dressing as an 1840s mountain man and providing the scouts with a bit of colorful history.

While the ranges were bursting with activity, the clubhouse crew was preparing lunch for 250 folks!  Anthony Alampi, slaved over a hot propane stove and oven while many of us served the scouts in record time. We were fortunate to have the help of many scout leaders throughout the day. The crew set up and cleaned up three times throughout the day to prepare for lunch and end-of-the day presentations. It's a lot of work that goes unseen but not unappreciated.

Clubhouse Crew

Our instructors, once again, made us proud! They taught all day to share the ANJRPC message of safe shooting for our Scouts. THANKS for always “being prepared!” A special thanks also goes to our black powder instructors, who made all their own ammunition

Thank you to Daisy Outdoor Products for donating two Grizzly BB Gun Kits. 
Through the generous donation of Daisy Outdoor Products and Susan Gardner, Daisy’s Public Relations Manager, two lucky troops went home with Grizzly BB Gun kits. Congratulations to Troop 350 Belleville and Troop 1 Boonton, who won the kits at the end-of-the-day drawing. All of the scouts earned an ANJRPC safe shooting patch designed just for them. www.daisy.com 

Biodegradable Clay Birds 
Thanks to our friends at White Flyer for giving us the opportunity to use biodegradable clay birds that ensure the future of our fields. The clay birds used at Scout Day 2004 were White Flyer Bio™ targets, a non-toxic, totally biodegradable target. Rain and rainwater break the target down in 1 ½ to 2 years’ time. The “Bio” still shares all of the superior flight and breakability characteristics of the standard White Flyer target and is available in all-orange, orange dome or white. When “smoked,” the Bio gives off a white puff. www.whiteflyer.com 

Scouts Show Appreciation

The ANJRPC was presented with a beautiful thank you plaque from Boy Scout Troop 22 in Bloomfield under the leadership of Glenn Ryan. The plaque, signed by each individual Scout, recognized Mike and Peggy Bodner for organizing Scout day and Frank Sevean for organizing YouthFest.

It is an honor for all of us who work together to be so acknowledged by the youth who have attended our events. We are obviously doing something right!

Peggy Bodner, Special Events Chair

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