Here is a little more information about the new program. Kudu's to the potterfields!
A presentation was given on a donation of $739,000 to support the Wildlife Department's new scholastic shooting sports program to be implemented in Oklahoma schools. The donation comes from the Brenda Potterfield Trust, and individual schools involved in the program will receive an endowed trust fund through the Midway USA Foundation, Inc. The Midway USA Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the shooting sports.
The $739,000 donation from the Potterfield Trust will be used primarily to help fund the Scholastic Shooting Trust, which is owned and controlled by the Midway USA Foundation. Participating Oklahoma schools will be set up with an account within the Scholastic Shooting Trust, with which they can buy ammunition, safety supplies, clay targets and team uniforms or pay range fees for their programs. While proceeds from the trust fund investments can be used by the schools to purchase shooting supplies, some of the donation will be used to defray expenses for the 2013 state shoot to be held Nov. 20, 2013 among the program's piloting schools, which include schools that have already been involved in other Wildlife Department education programs such as Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools, Fishing in the Schools, Hunter Education and Explore Bowhunting.
The Wildlife Department will provide these schools with equipment kits that consist of target throwers, gun safes, clay targets and hearing and eye protection. The equipment kits will be funded in part by the Department and the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI), a group dedicated to sportsmen and conservation.
Schools interested in bringing the Wildlife Department's suite of outdoor education programs to their schools should contact Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Wildlife Department, at (918) 299-2334.
