June 2007 Youth Goose Banding

The Ohio Waterfowl Association and Wayne County Ducks Unlimited team up for a second successful year !

June 16th, 2007...Around 40 kids, 20 from the Wayne County DU Greenwings and 20 from Ohio Waterfowl Association families, participated in the second annual joint event with the ODNR.  Although the geese got smart this year and avoided the net, the day was by no means a bust.  A wonderful educational program, lots of fun and a cookout was organized by OWA member Steve Jennings.  This event has become so successful that we may look at a bigger venue to accommodate even more children in the future.  The 40 kids spots were reserved via RSVP and were filled very quickly!

Here's a little commentary from Steve Jennings with video of the rocket net taken by Dan Boone: ODNR had called me earlier in the week explaining that the geese were getting smart to our previous methods of "heading them off, before they could reach the safety of the water". ODNR wanted to use a new approach, "rocket net", to save them some effort. Things just didn't work out for the net idea, couple of fishermen, had 80+ geese off away from net feeding in grassy field, and we just couldn't get any to cooperate. ODNR brought the rocket net to the picnic site to show us how it worked. VERY IMPRESSIVE>>>BOOM! Like anything that is "wildlife" it is not predictable...

More of Steve's thoughts on the event ... Steve's dedication to kids and to bringing OWA, DU, the ODNR and various diverse groups and interested waterfowling families together for a day of fun and education really illustrates the spirit of what the OWA mission is all about: Plan B was what we had today, not that it was any different than plan A, just that we didn't see live geese below the net. Great turn out and a great day for the kids as well as adults. It makes for a long day when your up at 5:30, surrounded by great kids till 1:30, keeping them constantly in a learning / fun enviroment. I never give enough credit to teachers and people that take care of my children... This event has turned into exactly what I dreamed it would, now for 2 years in a row. Even though the geese didn't cooperate, we had a blast with the kids. Special thanks to all those that attended, all those that did all they did to make this event go off perfectly, those responsible for providing...OWA, ODNR, Miller family (pavilion), Frito Lay, Sun Rise Outfitters, Fin Feather and Fur Outfitters, Dave Gelhar (calling demo). The relationship with DU, OWA, ODNR, and kids is so easy, the event practically ran itself. That's because of all the great help! Even I had so much fun I had to take a 3 hr nap when I got home!

Dave Gelhar and Dan Boone tell the kids and parents a little about calling and hunting and how it ties in to waterfowl conservation ...

Lots of Fun and "Geese Games" were played ...

OWA and Wayne Co DU Member Steve Jennings (pictured below) worked hard to organize this event two years in a row!!

And of course, being that it's summertime, a cookout was involved ...

A huge OWA Thanks goes out to OWA Members Steve Jennings and Dave Gelhar,  as well as, OWA Officer Dan Boone for pictures and help making smiles for the day !! We'll see you next year ! !