Lumberton, Texas— The 3rd Annual Provost Umphrey Get Youth Outdoors Day, held April 29 at the 1-in-100 Gun Club near Lumberton drew a record attendance of 83 youths from the area who came to learn about firearms safety, shooting sports, archery, fishing and conservation.
A cooperative effort between the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), national partner Provost Umphrey Law Firm and local union members, the free community event, designed to provide hands-on outdoor experiences for kids aged 9-16, followed on the heels of the USA’s 2nd Annual Provost Umphrey Texas State Sporting Clays Shoot the day prior.
“Our goal in sponsoring the Get Youth Outdoors Day is to teach young people about gun safety and responsibility,” said Provost Umphrey Managing Partner Joe Fisher, “as well as offer them a chance to enjoy the outdoors by engaging in a few of the many activities it offers. For some, it was the first time they’d ever held a shotgun or fishing rod in their hands.”
Coaches and shooters from the Jefferson County 4-H Sporting Clays Club led the young participants through a firearms safety instruction session. Then, union volunteers from Roofers International and UA Local 68 as well as members of Provost Umphrey Law Firm helped them learn to break clay targets at the sporting clays stations and hit the bullseye on the archery range. At the club’s on-site pond, children learned casting and fishing techniques while catching bass, bluegills and catfish that had been especially stocked for the event.
“The Roofers and I have been involved in Get Youth Outdoors days for 11 years,” said Kinsey Robinson, president emeritus of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, “and this was the best run event I’ve ever seen. Provost Umphrey must be commended for their efforts in organizing and promoting such a special occasion; the facility is wonderful and the support they received from their employees and union volunteers was phenomenal.
“It allowed young people from different communities and different walks of life to come together,” he continued, “not only to have fun shooting and fishing, but to learn important firearms safety lessons, as well as a little bit about the union and its role in the big picture if they go on to choose to work in the trades.”
Along with a fantastic outdoor experience, each participant received a free rod-and-reel, courtesy of the USA, as an incentive to continue their pursuit of outdoor recreation. Plus, five lucky youths had their names drawn to win a guided hunting or fishing trip provided by Provost Umphrey Law Firm.
“My daughter Emelyn was the one lucky enough to win the whitetail hunting trip,” said mother Renae Rose-Anderson, “and I’m sure it will be a life-changing experience for her. But I also know that the quality of the volunteers, equipment and facilities at the Get Youth Outdoors Day made every child there a winner.”
“The future of our natural resources and our outdoor heritage depends on recruiting new participants who will value them throughout their lives,” said USA CEO and Executive Director Walt Ingram. “This outstanding event put on by the Provost Umphrey team, led by Joe Fisher, set a record for participation for a USA Get Youth Outdoors Day event. It’s an amazing example of what’s possible when you combine union members and great friends of Labor with a conservation organization focused on Labor to tie it all together.”
The Provost Umphrey Get Youth Outdoors Day was part of a series of free, community-based youth outreach activities organized under Work Boots on the Ground—the USA’s flagship conservation program—and supported by national partners Provost Umphrey Law Firm, Union Plus and Humana as well as USA founding partners UIG, ULLICO, Bank of Labor, AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation and Buck Knives.
Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA): The USA is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. For more information, visit www.unionsportsmen.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Work Boots on the Ground (WBG): WBG is the USA’s flagship conservation program that brings together union members willing to volunteer their time and expertise to conservation projects that improve and enhance public access to the outdoors, conserve wildlife habitat, restore America’s parks and mentor youth in the outdoors. The USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program works closely with federal, state and local agencies and other conservation groups to provide manpower needed to complete critical projects that may otherwise go undone.
Provost Umphrey Law Firm: For over 50 years, our firm’s mission has remained to seek justice for those in need. Our attorneys fight for clients nationwide with offices in Beaumont, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee. We continue to be one of the most successful trial law firms in the nation by remaining Hard-Working Lawyers for Hard-Working People. To learn more, visit http://www.provostumphrey.com.
