By THOMAS P. WEAVER

HORIZON Editor

CELINA-With technology dominating today’s world, organizers of the annual Wilderness Day Camp believe their efforts towards introducing kids to the outdoors are more crucial than ever.

“Nobody else is grabbing these kids and saying, ‘hey, let’s go outside and do something,’” Larry Bethke said in response to being asked why he and a handful of volunteers put on the camp at the recreation area here below Dale Hollow Dam each year.  “Maybe just this little bit of exposure will plant that idea in them.

“I raised my kids hunting and fishing, Paul is the same way, and we just feel that the kids going fishing, or out doing something outside, is somewhat better than playing on their phones, and hopefully they go away from the bad stuff and go in a good direction.

“That’s our whole drive and our whole mission… is to help the kids.”

Bethke serves as the president of the Friends of the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, and the Paul he referenced is local fly-fishing enthusiast and one of the group’s founders Paul Boyce.

Both men, along with nine others, volunteered their time earlier this month to make the 15th Annual Wilderness Day Camp happen.

“I wish we could do more,” Boyce said.  “We have had over 20 volunteers, (but) we currently only have 11.”

He explained the group is looking to add volunteers, and would welcome help with open arms.

Boyce and Bethke are carrying on a tradition set by former Celina United Methodist Church minister Russell Cain, who founded the Hatchery Friends group back in 2007.

The camp began in his honor in 2009, offering youth a day of outdoor educational activities, including fly-rod casting, BB-gun and archery shooting, and learning both local history and boating safety.

The Hatchery Friends partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to offer the camp.

The Friends group also does continuing education in area schools with rainbow trout aquariums, hosts other outings, and sets up at community events to promote their efforts.

They are a registered 501c nonprofit and operate solely on donations and the money they raise.

“We don’t get any funding from the hatchery,” Bethke explained.  “We are donation-based.

“We recently got a nice donation from a family during the Kids Fishing Rodeo and we’ve done some outreach programs that have brought in a little bit, like the Highway 52 Yardsale.”

To learn more about the Friends of the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, reach out to Bethke or Boyce, or visit www.fws.gov/partner/friends-dale-hollow-national-fish-hatchery.

Those interested in volunteering or helping with the cause can also call the hatchery at 931-243-2443.