PHIPPSBURG — Kids, put down the electronic devices, go outdoors and have fun. A parents’ fantasy?
No, it really happens at the Phippsburg Sportsmen’s Association summer youth field day. This year the youth field day will be on Sunday, June 23, and activities will begin at the Sportsmen’s Association’s Clubhouse and Outdoor Education Center on Route 209, Main Road.
For younger participants, grade and middle school age, or for older kids who have not tried these activities, the day is organized in a series of hour-long sessions, archery, flycasting, target shooting, tracking and trapping, and kayaking.
Kayaking is presented by Seaspray Kayaking and will be on Phippsburg’s Center Pond. Kids are organized into small groups and try their hands at each of these activities. Each group will be led by instructors expert in these activities and who want to share their knowledge and experience. All equipment will be provided.
All participants must register at the Sportsmen’s Association Clubhouse and Outdoor Education Center on Main Road the morning of the event. Most activities are at the PSA campus. For activities at other locations, transportation will be provided. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Youth must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian.
There is no charge for this event and lunch will be provided. Activities generally conclude in the late afternoon.
This year, the Sportsman’s Association is adding activities for older kids, teens, and families such as map and compass, and geocaching. Map and compass will be led by Master Maine guides Carroll and Lila Ware of Fins and Furs Adventures.
Participants will learn basic map and compass skills such as:
-— Learning parts of a compass
-— Learning basic features of topographic (topo) maps
-— Orienting topo maps
-— Finding travel routes on a topo maps
-— Finding distance on topo maps
This activity is great preparation for events such as orienteering and fun races run by Teens to Trails.
Geocaching is for teens and families looking for outdoor activities that they can enjoy together. Geocaching will be led by retired Coast Guard Master Chief Mike Young, whose handle in the geocaching community is “Coastie Mike.” Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers of all ages.
The activity uses GPS devices to locate hidden containers, called geocaches. Geocaches are located outdoors on publicly accessible lands. Participants then share their experiences online. It is a great way to explore new locations and to bring friends and family together. There are 33 geocaches in Phippsburg, 328 in the Bath-Brunswick area, and 8,214 in the State of Maine.
Participants will learn:
— How to set up an account and navigate the website www.geocaching.com.
— The different types of geocaches
— Geocache lingo and etiquette
— How to find and hide geocaches using a GPS
— How to incorporate geocoins, travel bugs, and pathtags to make the experience even more enjoyable.
Participants will learn about geocaching in a classroom session in the morning and then get some hands-on experience locating some caches in Phippsburg during the afternoon — so dress for the weather.
Pre-register for map and compass and geocaching by leaving a message at 443-9426. Map and compass and geocaching are recommended for youth in their teens or older.
Among Phippsburg Sportsmen’s Association missions is educating to preserve Maine’s Outdoor Heritage.