Kicking Bear-Changing Lives One Mentor At A Time
Chisago City, Minnesota
By Deb Luzinski

It was my first Kicking Bear Campout and Shoot. I had been making a very half-baked attempt at helping to "host" this camp. On the other hand, Travis "TJ" Johnson, his wife Jen, and Frank Welch were the ones who actually did all the prep work. Members of the Chisago City fire department volunteered their time and talents in preparing for this first-of-a-kind event in their area. "TJ" is a mountain of a man with a big heart for kids.

Others who came to help were Myles Keller from Mantorville, MN, Scott Swanson from Cannon Falls, MN, and Jerry Helget from the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. Myles is the most well-known bowhunter in the world and rightly so. Scott "the hound dog" has the incredible ability to find large bucks in any area and then is able to consistently get in close to make the "pinch". Jerry (who is also an excellent hunter) would be the official cook for the weekend. One thing notable about Jerry's cooking-he's not just a cook-he's a chef, and a connoisseur of fine food! The food was scrumptious! What an amazing event-all these great people coming together to help kids by introducing them to the outdoors and archery.

I've known Ray & Karen Howell for nearly 5 years, and have enjoyed hearing stories about many of the events that I had missed. I am a professional landscaper by trade, so when the snow disappears, I work. I work until the snow flies again. I'm telling you that because my schedule had never been open on the dates of the other camps. Weekdays I work and the weekends are spent making up for the busy weekdays or doing "promotional" obligations for some of the companies' that I am on Pro-Staff with. So only vicariously had I been at the other events.

I really felt ill prepared for the event in Chisago City, Minnesota. Quite honestly, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect because I had never had the opportunity to attend one of the events before. Hearing and doing are two completely different things. So while I had heard how they were to run, I was the one who wanted to run. Fear of the unknown!

. The kids began arriving in the afternoon-a few parents in tow. They all received free T-shirts and hats just for being there. I finally started to feel a bit more at ease. The camp took on a "life" of its own. While some of the kids and adults set up their tents, others played football, kickball and other various games.

After the little campers registered, we all had a light dinner and afterward the Chisago City volunteer firemen parked one of the fire trucks at the event for the kids to sit in, try on the firemen's gear, hold a fire hose, and have their pictures taken. The firemen also turned the siren on several times for the kids which delighted them to no end. Following that, we all sat around a big bonfire. I quickly learned why Ray had the "hunger" for marshmallows. Actually it is when I experienced the first (of many) blows to the temple, that I truly understood why marshmallows were even created. What else could you possibly throw at another human being, hundreds of times, and the only wound suffered is incredible stickiness? Oh, and possibly the occasional "powder" in the eye. And you thought that marshmallows were only for bear baiting-you silly, misguided people. I have never looked at a marshmallow the same since!

The next morning after a sweet-roll and juice breakfast Ray held a safety meeting and told the kids that safety was the most important thing for them to remember while they were on the 3-D course. Then all of the little campers were introduced to the sport of archery and because for most of them, it was their very first time shooting a bow the kids were able to practice by flinging a few arrows at a "ring" target. Once they were a bit acclimated and felt more confident, we split into groups and made our way around the 3-D course where friendly competitions for the campers took place throughout the day. You could hear kids hooting and hollering as their arrows hit the mark!

When I saw the "little people" who I was to "mentor" I cringed. These were the same kids who so diligently tap danced on my nerves the night before. Little obnoxious boys, and the ever sweet little girl. I do love a challenge-I had planned on "changing" them. No more free spirited, fun loving kids. It was time for Deb's school of good behavior. Let the games begin! I have a hard time remembering names, but tell me the name of your dog and I will never forget it. Introduce me to the most important person in your world, and I will forget their name time and time again. That's why I have grown to appreciate name tags. I can read-just can't remember.

My "posse" (it's what I called my campers) and I headed off to the 3-D course. I think I may have even picked up a "switch" on the way-just kidding! I gave a brief talk on safety, and let the first little boy shoot. The next one shot, then the next and then… Jake. Jake is the kid that changed my views. I think they were all a little down when their arrow didn't fly exactly where they wanted.

As an experienced archer I am especially hard on myself when my arrow doesn't fly perfectly. There is no one to blame but our selves. Knowing how I am, I really wanted to impress on these kids how important it is to continue to try, and that it isn't the end of the world if the arrow doesn't go exactly where you want it to go-there is always another arrow. Jake tried so hard to be the best shot he could be. I am not kidding. This little boy, I believe to be around 9 years old, totally changed my perspective. With a little encouragement, lots of patience, and just seeing what the power of having an open heart and open mind can do, Jake turned out to have more heart and determination than I have ever seen in a boy his age. He wanted to do better for no one but himself.

At the end of the day, lots of prizes were handed out to the kids and any of the kids who had signed up to have a mentor were paired up with a qualified adult who would continue to spend time with them in the outdoors throughout the year.

It wasn't until this past January at the Archery Trade Association Show that I really realized the magnitude of the Kicking Bear Camp and the impact it made on my life. I had been talking with a friend of mine, Keith Edberg who is with Robinson Outdoors. Keith set up my very first bow back in 1991 when he worked for a local archery shop. While Keith and I have always kept in contact, there was something I had never shared with him until now.

I told Keith how he had changed my life some nearly 15 years ago by how he had treated me. Keith had treated me with such respect and patience. I felt accepted and empowered. When I started bowhunting, very few women were involved in the sport. It would have been very easy for Keith to dismiss me. Heck, another archery shop already had! Keith didn't-he encouraged me. Keith and I went on to talk about what we had been doing over the past year and we began to talk about Ray and Kicking Bear. I had told Keith about my "posse" and specifically about Jake and what a determined young man he was. How I saw a change in Jake the second he picked up that bow, and how determined he grew with every arrow his little fingers released.

Keith said to me, "You changed that boy's life-he will never forget that day". My only response was, "He changed mine-that boy changed my life".