News Releases

Experience outdoor fun March 5 at Beau Turner youth center

News Release

Monday, February 21, 2011

Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867

Young people looking to get outside on a nice spring day are invited to attend Beau Turner's Annual Outdoor Experience on March 5 at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center, east of Tallahassee in Jefferson County.

The center, operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is on U.S. 19 just north of U.S. 27 and is the state's first privately developed conservation facility for youths.

The Saturday event is free and open to children of all ages and their parents.  It begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. Advance registration is not necessary.

Activities include fishing and casting competitions; Olympic-style archery; muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle shooting; K-9 demonstrations; hayrides; and bounce houses.  An FWC law enforcement helicopter, as well as wild animals, will be on hand so attendees can get a closer look.

Also, three outdoor television personalities will be there giving demonstrations: exhibition shooter Bill "Badlands" Oglesby (11 a.m.), 14-year-old hunting sensation Zac Cooper (1 p.m.) and Xtreme Sport Shooter Patrick Flanigan (2 p.m.).

All attending youths will have a chance to win one of several door prizes, including hunting and fishing gear, a week of summer camp at the Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp or a spot at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center summer hunt camp.

Food will be available for purchase, or attendees can bring their own sack lunch.

During the event, parents can sign up their 12- to 16-year-old children for free weekend programs at the youth center, where they can learn about gun safety, archery, fishing, shooting and other outdoor activities.

Sponsors for the event include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, the Future of Hunting in Florida, Florida Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, United Waterfowlers of Florida, Ducks Unlimited, Florida Wildlife Federation, Homestead Ministries, Mathews, Mossberg, Browning, Nikon, Ol' Man Treestands and the Tallahassee Museum.For more information on Beau Turner's Annual Outdoor Experience, or to obtain more detailed driving directions to the center, contact Renee Hays at 850-413-0084, or go to MyFWC.com/BTYCC.