Sept 28: Outdoor Adventure Day

Please consider volunteering to help us at Unicoi State Park’s Outdoor Adventure Day to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, 9/28/13. You don’t have to be an expert outdoorsman or woman to play a vital role in the day’s success. Can you help at registration or direct parking? There’s a niche for everyone. http://www.gastateparks.org/event/6006?locationid=98&p=98&c=4343826

Unicoi State Park staff hosts us, Game Management Supervisor Ken handles the budget, and I handle event staffing.

We (DNR) need a hundred or so volunteers to make this event happen. Many of you are OAD veterans, but the following info may help prospective volunteers to understand the roles they could play and to make the decision to join our ranks. To fill out my roster and to ensure good communications with volunteers, I would like the following info from each volunteer: =====================================================================

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM

1) Your name: ________________
2) Your affiliation (if you’d like me to credit your group or club): __________
3) email address: _______________
4) phone number: ________________
5) first choice of venue: _______________
6) second choice of venue: ____________

7) are you willing to work anywhere I need somebody (y/n)? _ ============================================================

First come, first served. Below is the narrative from previous years’ volunteer instructions to help you understand the duties. Thanks for your consideration. We can’t pull off this event without an army of vols!

Venue Info:

1.The event will be held in the big field along Smith Creek just downstream from Unicoi Lake Dam.

2. Registration & Raffle tents. These workers will greet visitors and get signed liability release forms and pens back from them in exchange for raffle tickets. Detailed instructions will be provided to you on Saturday (9/28), as Kim trains you. Visitors will put one copy of the raffle ticket into the raffle bucket of their choice and keep the other copy. They will use that copy as proof of signing the release form (so they can shoot or canoe) and as proof of a winning raffle ticket number. The raffle will start at 1 PM for free prizes. I have a small, separate work force assigned to the raffle. Volunteers on my roster are eligible for prizes, also!

3. Parking. State Parks staff will guide visitor vehicles to orderly parking in the big field. Parks staff also have a plan for overflow parking, if needed. They may need a few helpers.

4. Archery. Hands-on. One-on-one instruction by WRD and Traditional Bowhunters Association. Note that this venue is on far side of Smith Creek, next to the laundry building. Some of you may be asked to provide security. Just stand at edge of venue and prevent visitors from straying into the line of fire.

5. Airgun. Hands on by WRD, 4-H Club, and other volunteers. Same as #4, and located next to it. Again, a few of you may secure the perimeter.

6. Skeet. Handled mainly by well trained DNR and USFS Rangers and Game Management Technicians. It’s 500 yards downstream from the main event (safety, safety). A few of you may simply help at the sign-in tent and keep waiting guests away from the shooting area (no experience needed).

7. Fishing tent. This is where visitors can exchange a driver’s license for a loaner fishing pole and bait. Biologists, fishing guides, TU’ers, and other fibbers can answer questions and give fishing tips. Fisheries staff will need at least 5 helpers to stay at the tent to handle loaner rod untangling, knot-tying, bait distribution, and rod checkout. This is a busy tent.

8. Fly casting. Part of the field will be set aside for casting instruction. I suggest that volunteers bring a rod that they don’t mind visitors tinkering with (DON’T BRING YOUR GOOD SAGE OR WINSTON!!!). I am venue leader for casting and tying. If you tie, bring your tying stuff with you, too.

9. Fly tying. Bring your supplies and an extra vise if you have one. Let visitors sit down at the table and tie his/her own fly to take home. Variations of the woolly worm (W. bugger, Anytime/Anywhere, etc.) or San Juan worm have worked well for me in the past. Kids love a gold bead and a big, gaudy fly. Girls love pink flies. Beads from craft store, yarn from Wal-Mart. Cheap, easy, and fun for visitor. Many visitors are shy, so you may have to speak up and encourage youngsters to come over and tie their own fly. We will try to have power to the tent (if generator is not too loud), so consider bringing a small lamp.

10. Fishing – onstream helpers. Grab a pocket fishing kit (hooks and shot) and some bait (corn) that WRD will supply and go help people fishing on stream. Search them out – look at stringers, tackle used, and forlorn faces. Find a kid and work with him/her for an hour or so on reading water, casting, setting hook, etc. Mentoring! Fishing is NOT restricted to kids only (parent has the driver’s license, so they must be hooked, too). Feel free to bring some of your favorite baits to help your reputation as an awesome fishing guide. We will have about 100 loaner poles available, but feel free to bring an extra Zebco outfit if you have one to loan to your “student,” since we made more than 300 loans at our last event. (See item #9). Some of you can help WRD staff stock creek around 10-11 AM. Get some kids to help too – we’re bringing buckets to get them involved.

11. Wildlife and Camping venues. The experts pretty much run their own shows. Volunteers here will mainly help Smithgall Woods Education Specialist Sheila Humphrey (Wildlife) with logistics needed by the demonstrators (tables, chairs, PR, food and water, etc.).

Thanks for considering the donation of your Saturday to preserve the future of your sport! Please provide your information to Olivia if you are interested in helping DNR to promote outdoor recreation and plant some seeds of conservation. Olivia McClure Olivia.McClure@dnr.state.ga.us . Her phone:770-535-5498, and fax 5953.