Summerland members of Scouts Canada spent a couple of days recently with members of the Summerland Sportsmen Association learning about old firearms, archery and other outdoor activities.
Gary Smith of the Summerland Sportsmen Association demonstrated how to cast bullets at a meeting Thursday. Adrian’s Automotive donated the wheel weights that were melted down and cast for bullets.
Members Mandy Smith and Christine Greser talked to the Scouts about life in pioneer times. They explained how to make candles, use ink and feathers to write letters, sew with needle and thread and cook with a skillet on a wood stove.
Harald Greser displayed old first aid kits, wooden water bottles, flint and steel to start a fire, paper cartridges, homemade tools and a flintlock rifle replica out of the 18th Century. All the SSA members were dressed in different time period costumes.
On the Sunday the Scouts went to the shooting range in Garnett Valley where members of the Sportsmen Association taught them to use old firearms. The bullets they cast on Thursday were shot and used up. The Scouts received safety training and it was explained that firearms are not toys and are not computer games.
The B.C. Black Powder Association donated medals for this event. There were four different rifle stations. One of the stations had a miniature cannon set up. The target was a Canadian Pirate ship named Me Eh.
Archery was another experience the Scouts tried, with five bow and arrow sets available for their use.
The lunch of burgers, hot dogs and drinks was provided by SSA.
The youth program is a new one for SSA, designed to promote outdoor activities, care for wildlife habitat and safe use of firearms for hunting as well as competition shooting for youth.
More information is available from the youth committee: Tim Broesch, 250-490-5487; David Chase, 250-494-0603; Harald Greser, 250-494-5409; and Gary Smith, 250-494-9534.
The Sportsmen Association has the following sections: fishing, shooting, hunting, archery, conservation. The association is affiliated with the B.C. Wildlife Federation. The Summerland organization meets every third Thursday of the month 7:30 p.m. at the Summerland Legion. New members are welcome.
