FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Contact: 740-435-3335
NEW EVENT FOR NATIONAL WHITETAIL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio – The National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation will announce new and strategic steps in its rapid expansion during the first-ever Outdoor Education Summit on November 6.
The Summit, starting at 10:30 a.m. and concluding about 2 p.m., takes place on the Whitetail Foundation’s 117-acre grounds called Deerassic Park. The Park is located on Route 22 east of Cambridge, near the entrance to Salt Fork State Park and not far from the Intersection of Interstates 70 and 77 in Guernsey County.
The Outdoor Education Summit marks the debut of outdoor education as a regular program aspect of the Foundation’s emerging state and national efforts. Educational programs for school, civic, and other groups presented by the Whitetail Foundation will be available in January at many locations around Ohio. Educational programs for school, civic, tour and other groups are expected to become available on the Park grounds in the spring of 2004.
The Outdoor Education Summit follows the successful Deerassic Classic on August 23 that was highlighted by 11,500 people attending the inaugural event. The Classic generated more than $3 million in economic impact for a large area of Ohio. Plans are underway for an even larger Classic next August to help fund the eventual construction of the Ohio Whitetail Hall of Fame Museum. The shrine will be the nation’s leading location dedicated to creating a better understanding and respect for Ohio’s state animal, the whitetail deer.
The November 6 Outdoor Summit features regional school children from Guernsey and Noble counties, civic and government leaders, media, and other supporters celebrating the start of the new outdoor education program. There will be six learning stations on a variety of topics prepared and presented by professional educators focusing on outdoor knowledge and participation. Student registration is already full for the Summit activities and other regional schools are encouraged to register for future education outreach programs presented by the Foundation starting this winter.
The Summit and all other Foundation endeavors in the future will place a premium on knowledge, respect, and understanding of how the whitetail deer, as well as an outdoor way of life, remain treasured American traditions.
The Foundation has hired three full-time employees to form a first-ever staff of outreach professionals. Dean Ziegler is the Director of Operations, Michael M. Brown is the Director of Public Relations & Education, and Toni Kellar is the Director of Programs.
The Outdoor Education Summit will start with remarks from Foundation, government and tourism leadership about the importance of providing outdoor and nature education to 21st century youngsters.
Then, the Summit program will provide more than 50 area school children with a variety of learning stations. A traditional outdoor cookout will provide a festive luncheon on the scenic grounds that feature a live herd of spectacular whitetails.
The Buckeye Trail Middle School as well as school children from the Caldwell Elementary School in Noble County will be the inaugural guests for outdoor education at Deerassic Park.
Topics of the learning stations will include Wonders of the Whitetail by Dean Ziegler; Outdoor Skills and Safety Tips by Mike Brown, Walk on the Wild Side by Toni Kellar, and other presentations focused on respect and compassion for whitetail deer and the natural world.
For more information or to schedule an educational program in the future, contact the National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation at 740-435-3335, or info@deerassic.com.
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