Outdoor Education Program Celebrates '1 Millionth' Participant

Trailblazer Adventure Program, the Leading Outdoor Education Effort, Promotes Hunting, Fishing and Conservation

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation's (USSAF) signature outdoor education program for American youth, the Trailblazer Adventure Program, is preparing to reach a major milestone on October 2 with its one millionth participant attending an event. Trailblazer gives youth the chance to experience the shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation ethic that makes America's outdoor traditions so precious.

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Thousands of youth and their families will be part of seven Trailblazer Adventure Day celebrations around the nation including sites in Atlanta, Georgia, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, Traverse City, Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Albany, New York and East Providence, Rhode Island.

By the days end, over one million participants will have gone through the Trailblazer Adventure Program since its inception as an Atlanta pilot program in 2001.

In 2002 Trailblazer followed that first event with five more around the country averaging over 1,000 participants at each site.  That tremendous growth continued reaching a record number of 200,000 youth and their families attending in 2009 alone.

Trailblazer has received many awards and accolades including a U.S. Department of the Interior Take Pride in America® award for its leadership in recruiting youth and families to outdoor sports.

"For close to a decade, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation has worked with various youth organizations to make Trailblazer the largest outdoor education program of its kind in the nation," said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO.  "It's been awe inspiring to have touched the lives of so many young people and their families, introducing them to the wonders of outdoor sports."

The Chair of the Trailblazer Program is Mary Cabela, co-founder with husband Richard Cabela, and brother Jim Cabela of the world's foremost outdoor retailer, Cabela's.  It is under her guidance and generosity that Trailblazer has the resources to introduce legions of youth and their families to shooting, fishing, hunting, and trapping.

Additionally, many organizations have provided invaluable resources to make Trailblazer a reality such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, nearly every state wildlife agency, and numerous national conservation based groups such as Fur Takers of American, Masters of Foxhounds Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.  In addition to these groups, tens of thousands of volunteers, many from an expansive national network of local conservation clubs, have donated their time and money to make each Trailblazer event a unique experience for the children and families attending.

About Trailblazer: Trailblazer events are typically hosted at a Boy Scout camp or similar facility and features a variety of activities, demonstrations and orientation sessions to let children and their parents experience the outdoor lifestyle. Activities include firearm shooting and safety, archery, trapping, fishing and much more. All activities are conducted under the supervision of experienced sportsmen with an emphasis on safety.

SOURCE U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation