The 20th Monroe County Youth Field Day event, held Saturday, was hosted by Minsi Trails Counsel, Boy Scouts of America at Camp Trexler in Jonas.

The event is supported by the Monroe County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.Three local clubs, Indian Mountain Rod and Gun Club, Blue Ridge Cherry Valley Rod and Gun Club, and Kunkletown Rod and Gun Club sponsored the event and about 70-75 volunteers run the event. They start the planning in January for the next year's event.There were 10 stations that offered a variety of outdoor activities in an educational format for the 225 children that attended, ranging in ages 8-14. The children had to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Siblings could also participate.They spent 45 minutes at each station.They were: boat and water safety; dog handling by Tom Battista; trapping and fur taking; wildlife art drawing with Will Daskal; techniques of fishing with 150-200 trout donated by Big Brown Fish Hatchery of Effort, Keith Schwartz; taxidermy with Hap Volz of Hap's Taxidermy; construction of bird feeders that Peter Marini cut all the wood for; firearm safety, shooting 22s with Blue Ridge Cherry Valley Rod and Gun Club and shotguns with Indian Mountain Rod and Gun Club; archery under Jeff Parks; fun run obstacle; and game course with a zip line.The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 678 put together the obstacle course complete with a zip line. Member Bryan Bittenbender says his group does this each year to help the kids have a good day. The course gives information on what to do if lost in the woods, enforces physical fitness and builds confidence.A free lunch was provided for all. Kunkletown Rod and Gun Club ran the mess hall. They prepared over 900 hot dogs.Each registered child received a free T-shirt, a logo cap and a gift bag filled with donated information and gifts. This is made possible with donations received from local, regional and nationally based businesses.There was a Chinese auction filled with items any child who enjoys the outdoors would love to have. Three lucky children won the door prizes of a kayak, a day pack filled with items needed for a day's hiking excursion including binoculars and a camping set for four.Kenny Green, president of the Indian Mountain Rod and Gun Club says some of the biggest benefits of the event is the children are not inside, they're not on their cellphones, on their computers or watching television.Emily Vile, 8, of Saylorsburg says her favorite thing at the Field Day was the zip line.Mike Schwartz of Kresgeville, field day chairman and member of the Indian Mountain Rod and Gun Club, says it's great to see the kids having a ball, and he enjoys seeing them with their parents."If we can get 3 to 5 percent of those who attended today interested in the outdoors, we've accomplished something," Schwartz said."Seeing the expressions on these kids faces ... priceless," Green said.