What size staff do you typically bring?

We typically bring a staff of 3-4; however, the host organization/group is responsible for lining up enough volunteers and/or mentors in order to host a camp.

Other than those volunteers helping with setup, meals, setting up the 3-D archery course, teardown, etc., how many additional people do you suggest for the various size groups of kids that attend?

We suggest you have at least one (1) person for every group of five (5) kids; these volunteers should have some experience with archery. One of the things that's very important is setting up a safe 3-D archery course. Maybe a local archery club would like to get involved. They may also be able to supply targets for the event too as we don't supply targets.

When do you/they arrive, day of the event or a bit earlier?

The Kicking Bear team usually arrives on Thursday or Friday morning and then we try and pack up everything right after the event ends Saturday afternoon. The participants arrive on Friday at a time that you have determined. Usually 5:00 PM works for people to start registering and setting up their tents, etc.

Will you visit the site prior? Give suggestions for area placement?

Visiting the site ahead of time would be ideal, but distance and cost are both factors and time is also a factor. During the summer, we typically put on KB events every weekend June-Sept. so it keeps us hopping.

Have you had any ADA accessibility issues? If we would use a wooded and/or hilly area we may face some difficulty, would having a gator available to transport someone be enough to cover this aspect?

We have not had any ADA issues to date. We had a young boy attend an event who had MS and a couple of volunteers either carried him around or pushed him in his wheelchair. Almost all areas were accessible to him. Having a gator available would be great, but not necessary.

With your liability release, do you have an additional release if a child goes on into a mentoring role with an adult after the event? Or is it similar, or the same just signed and dated at the appropriate time?

Mentoring is not covered under our liability policy. We don't get involved with the individual mentoring aspect after the event. This would be the responsibility of the host group and the parent/guardian. They would be the ones who would have knowledge of the local mentors and would know their backgrounds or could do a background check.

When you say we need a committee to cover "for instance... 3-D targets" that mean we need to have all of the targets correct? Do you bring any? Do we need the items for the novelty shoots as well?

Each host group will supply a minimum of 15 3-D targets. The more, the better. It isn't economically feasible for us to bring targets. We ask each host group to supply one person for each target. That person remains at the target; is in charge of the arrows; and helps show the kids how to shoot, if necessary. Yes, you would be responsible for the items for the novelty shoots, but it would be mostly balloons, apples, etc. We could give you suggestions if necessary.

Typically do all of the kids and parents/mentors stay overnight?

If they are local would they choose to go home? With additional registration Saturday AM - would kids be arriving in the morning that would not have been there the night before? Yes, some might arrive on Sat. morning, but everyone has to be there for the safety meeting, otherwise they won't be able to participate in the 3-D archery shoot. Typically, everyone stays overnight although some come Friday for the activities, go home, and return in the morning. Some just don't have tents, sleeping bags, etc. We encourage them to camp out because that's part of what Kicking Bear is about. Some event hosts have supplied tents and sleeping bags for people who want to stay but don't have the equipment.

Is there a "better" time according to weather and season, i.e. fall, closer to hunting season?

We don't want to plan too far into fall because Ray and Karen hunt during the fall and he also presents seminars, etc.

What's the best way to find out what we need to do to host a Kicking Bear Campout and Shoot?

One thing that would be very beneficial to your group would be to have someone attend one of the Kicking Bear events before hosting your own. They would get a very good "feel" for what is going on and what it takes to host an event.

How large of a group should we plan on hosting?

We would suggest you limit your group the first year to less than 100 as a larger group would be difficult to manage without having prior experience.

Could you give me an idea about how much the average group invests/gathers in donations to carry out a successful event?

These costs can range anywhere from $2000-$5000 depending on the number of people attending. The food is what costs the most. We do not have a formula to calculate the amount of food to purchase. We have many suggestions for fund raisers to help offset the costs.

Do you bring the sponsor prizes for the event - or do you send them?

We either bring prizes or have them shipped directly to the event site depending on which is more feasible.

Who supplies the bows and arrows for the event? Will you be sending the archery equipment and stuff so it will be here when you arrive?

We will supply all the archery equipment (bows and arrows). We will either send these in time for the event, or we'll bring them with us depending on the location.

How many targets should we have for the 3-D course?

You should plan on having a minimum of (15) 3-D targets. You may contact local archery shops and or outdoor stores such as Gander Mountain in order to get names of people or clubs who may be able to donate these. If you expect to have a large group of kids, it would be better to have a minimum of 28 targets, but if the course is set up correctly and with safety in mind, the kids could go through the course twice. We've done that in the past. The most important thing about the 3-D course is safety. All "traffic" through the 3-D course has to travel in one direction only. We don't want anyone backtracking and getting hurt.

When do you start the safety meeting on Saturday morning?

The safety meeting is typically held between 8:30-9:00 AM on Saturday morning which gives people enough time to eat breakfast and relax a little before everything gets crazy. This sometimes is determined by the weather. We plan a lot around what the weather is doing!

Do we need to make any accommodations for you/your staff coming?

It isn't necessary for Ray as he is fine sleeping anywhere, but if there is somewhere nearby where staff could sleep on a "real" bed, that would be wonderful!

Do you have any signage/banners that you want posted prior to the event?

We will either bring banners, etc. or we'll ship them in advance. We have lots of them--some from sponsors and the others are basically Kicking Bear banners. It depends on if we drive or have to fly to an event.

I know that you have the kids sign a video/picture release when they register - are we able to also film the event?

Anyone is welcome to film the event and/or take pictures. We have everyone sign the video/photo release because of using the videos and photos for promotional purposes for Kicking Bear. If parents/guardians don't want their child filmed, they will have to specify that and they will also be responsible for keeping their child out of the filming and photography.

Do you want us to hang your banners and stuff prior to your arrival - or are there specifications as to what goes where? Should we just keep all of your stuff packed up until you get here and then plan on doing that on the day of?

Ray usually likes to be in charge of hanging the banners. The rest can stay packed up until we get there, but you are welcome to check everything if you're curious.

If we want to get some other sponsors say a bottling company, a chip place, some local businesses' can we put their logo on our fliers - I noticed that several of your fliers had tons of sponsors/advertisement on them and didn't know if there were any conflicts?

That would be super to include them on the flyers! Individual sponsors need to be recognized for their donations. After all, it's for the kids--there shouldn't be any "politics" involved.

Remind me again about the "novelty shoot"--is that for Saturday? How big of an area should it be space wise?

We can have a novelty shoot on Friday evening. We usually set up a raccoon target and use reflectors for eyes that light up when you shine a flashlight on them. Then the kids see who can shoot the raccoon between the eyes. The closest wins a prize. An area not more than 15 yards long and about 20 yards wide is enough. We also have fun competitions with the kids while they are shooting the 3-D course and we have candy and other donated prizes that we hand out to the winners! The kids love it!

About the course on Saturday - will all of the kids theoretically be on the course --- spread out of course at one time?

We send the kids out with their mentors in groups of 5 or 6 as they get their bows and after the safety meeting. All first-time shooters will have a chance to practice first. This can be the same area where the raccoon shoot is held. The groups go out at about 5 minute intervals depending on how fast we get the groups lined up but we start them at different targets but keep them going in a clockwise direction so it is very safe. None of the kids are allowed to hold the arrows. The mentors and/or parents keep all the arrows until a child is at the line and ready to shoot at the target.

I don't need anything for them to do --- they just kind of hang and wait for their turn at the next target?

Right--once they are out on the course, you don't need to do anything for them except wait for them to return. We will be sending people on the course to make sure the groups are staying together, keeping things safe, and taking more arrows in case they lose some. We have some orange vests from Gander Mountain that people can wear who are doing this. They typically patrol the course.

How does the program work?

We hold free events (such as campouts and 3-D archery shoots, shed antler hunts, special youth deer, turkey, and pheasant hunts, and fishing trips) throughout the US utilizing local organizations who contact Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Sisters, Foster Care Agencies, churches, etc. inviting at-risk and under-privileged youth to attend.

What does it take to be a good mentor?

A desire to be a positive role model in a child's life; lots of patience; williness to listen; willing to take time. So many people say they want to get involved in helping youth and then when the time comes, they have too many other things to do. Time is a big one although being a good mentor isn't time consuming. Introducing the child to the outdoors by taking them hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, etc. could be a monthly commitment or quarterly, or...just staying in touch with the child and letting them know you care. We do a lot of group youth activities because it helps the parents feel more at ease than if their child is spending time with only one person.

How are donations used?

Donations are used to purchase prizes and supplies for camps, and for the hunting and fishing trips so there isn't any cost to the child.

Do you have a high resolution logo I can download?

Yes we do. You can download it here.