Well we had 20 Scouts and leaders yesterday. We had to split into two sessions but the kids had a ball. After some instruction, several were able to hit marshmallows with the muskets. It was hot but the kids had a great time.
Jim aka "KowDoc" is giving a brief on loading procedures for muskets with minies.
One of the challenges we need to address is a lack of left handed guns. Note the student in this picture is wearing a welders glove on his right hand to avoid cap "splash". All of our instructors are also right handed so we have to shift mental gears when working with a left handed kid. Here we're working through the patch round ball part of the program before switching to muskets.
PathfinderNC with a student. PathfinderNC builds flintlocks and makes powder horns that are true works of art. In addition to his skills with a flintlock, he is also a skilled luthier. He makes Appalachian Dulcimers from scratch that are beautiful and have great sound.
St. Marty working with a student in the patch round ball part of the session. Marty is a retired school teacher and has a great way of working with kids.
Sometimes there are casualties. Between loss of sleep from the storms the previous evening and the heat of the day, our intrepid program director succumbs to fatigue during a break.
We also get some visits from wildlife even though the range is active. Since the range and camp are a "no hunting" zone for the most part, deer wander through from time to time. We had a doe stroll past the range last week and hang out in the creek behind us.
Jim aka "KowDoc" is giving a brief on loading procedures for muskets with minies.
One of the challenges we need to address is a lack of left handed guns. Note the student in this picture is wearing a welders glove on his right hand to avoid cap "splash". All of our instructors are also right handed so we have to shift mental gears when working with a left handed kid. Here we're working through the patch round ball part of the program before switching to muskets.
PathfinderNC with a student. PathfinderNC builds flintlocks and makes powder horns that are true works of art. In addition to his skills with a flintlock, he is also a skilled luthier. He makes Appalachian Dulcimers from scratch that are beautiful and have great sound.
St. Marty working with a student in the patch round ball part of the session. Marty is a retired school teacher and has a great way of working with kids.
Sometimes there are casualties. Between loss of sleep from the storms the previous evening and the heat of the day, our intrepid program director succumbs to fatigue during a break.
We also get some visits from wildlife even though the range is active. Since the range and camp are a "no hunting" zone for the most part, deer wander through from time to time. We had a doe stroll past the range last week and hang out in the creek behind us.
