A fun day on the wild side

PORT CLINTON — A unique event gave middle school students the opportunity to experience something new. About 60 children in grades sixth through eighth participated in the annual Day on the Wildside event on Thursday. It's hosted at the historic Winous Point Hunt Club, the oldest hunt club in the U.S. The day includes activities, like fishing, archery, shooting, bird banding and a punt boat ride. The event, which started 15 years ago, was organized by the Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District along with many other partners. "The first couple of years we had a hard time reaching 30 participants," district environmental educator Becky Simpson said. Eventually, word got out about the event, so spots fill up fast now. About 50 volunteers gave the kids a hands-on experience. "Most of the volunteers have been coming back since Day 1, so it's awesome," Simpson said. Ethan Falkinburg, who is a summer research technician at Winous Point, has been involved in the event for more than a decade. He started as a participant and then became a volunteer. "Growing up, I loved participating in this event. It was so much fun," Falkinburg said. "When I aged out, I wanted to give back and help out any way I could." He's hoping to use environmental education to inspire the next generation. The event also exposes kids to hunting and fishing. "Some households don't grow up with that. I was fortunate enough to," Falkinburg said. "We show them what we're passionate about. "There are careers for this stuff. It's not just a hobby," he added. Julia Osborne, 10, will be entering the sixth grade at Port Clinton Schools this fall. This was her first time at Day on the Wildside. Osborne said her favorite aspect of the day was shooting. She has tried archery before, but the event allowed her to shoot a gun for the first time — proper safety is always taught. For Simpson, she sees the event continuing well into the future. "I don't see it slowing down," Simpson said. "I think it's becoming more important to get kids outside." A lot of kids leave wanting to continue the activities, she said. They're sent home with a list of local places where they can do more of whatever interests them.