Young Lives Changed Through Kicking Bear’s Introduction to Bowhunting
By Kyle S. Lipke
Author’s note: This article previously published by Pope and Young Ethic Magazine
Just west of Medicine Lodge, Kansas lies the gorgeous burnt-red Gyp Hills. This area is cattle country, as well as home to giant whitetails, a plethora of Rio Grande turkeys, great bass fishing, and one of 36 locations across the U.S. where Kicking Bear Ministries hosts its yearly archery camp. During the first weekend of every June, shouts of joy and laughter can be heard echoing across the landscape as hundreds of kids and their families come to this incredible location to attend Kicking Bear. It is one of the most thrilling adventure days of the summer that many of the kids in this community get to experience.
What is Kicking Bear?
Kicking Bear was established in 1999 as a youth outdoor program with the mission of ‘putting a bow in a kid’s hand and leading their family to the Lord, one-on-one.’ With a passion for kids lacking access or opportunity to archery, bowhunting, and time in the great outdoors, Kicking Bear has served to meet this need for more than 25 years by conducting archery camps, adventure days, and youth mentored hunting trips all over the country.
Unlike many outdoor camps that are stationary, Kicking Bear is a mobile camp that travels from state to state to host adventure days throughout the summer. The headlining activity is always archery. Kids get the chance to rotate through an archery course where there is an array of 3-D archery targets to shoot at. From beginner to advanced, these courses are set up to accommodate all ages and experience levels of archers. Since this is the first time that many of the kids attending have ever shot a bow, an archery instructor is stationed at each target along the course. These instructors make sure that each kid is properly fit with a Genesis or Mission bow and then safely guide the kids through the process of aiming and releasing an arrow.
The fun isn’t just limited to archery. Kids also get to learn the art of throwing tomahawks. Families can encourage each other to complete physically challenging obstacle courses. They get to grapple in competitive games of tug-o-war. There are engaging opportunities to pelt each other in friendly marshmallow or water balloon fights. Many camps also teach kids how to fish or find shed antlers. Often, the local DNR or game and fish department teach how hunting benefits the future of wildlife conservation efforts through the Pittman-Robertson Act, habitat improvement, population management, and the wise use of natural resources.
Kicking Bear Camps are offered completely free of charge. Finances are often a barrier to youngsters and their families getting to experience archery and other outdoor pursuits. Kicking Bear has never wanted money to prohibit a kid from getting the chance to shoot an arrow or go on their first bowhunt. This is why these events have been and will always be open at no cost to anyone who attends.
It has been by the grace of God and the generous support of donors, churches, and outdoor companies that Kicking Bear has been able to carry on its mission of changing lives without charging a dime. Kicking Bear has been blessed that the Pope and Young Club is one such group that has supported the ministry from the very beginning.
One-On-One Mentorship
Kicking Bear has been sharing the love of archery and outdoor adventures in the Gyp Hills for more than a decade. Due to the trickle-down effect, the number of lives that have been impacted or transformed for the better is hard to calculate. One thing is for certain, Kicking Bear has helped bring positive change to the community of Medicine Lodge and families beyond, through the connection of their archery camp.
Numerous young lives, having attended the Medicine Lodge Kicking Bear camp, were able to release an arrow for the first time. This ultimately led many of these youngsters to not only get involved in archery but to additionally form a desire to become bowhunters. In many cases, an introduction to bowhunting through Kicking Bear’s mentorship program has changed these lives forever.
During summer camps, such as the one mentioned in Medicine Lodge, Kicking Bear works to make connections with kids who are interested in bowhunting but may not have the means to do so. Kicking Bear then pairs these kids with local mentors who can provide year-long discipleship and bowhunting instruction. The purpose of these mentors is to give a means for these kids to go on hunts with a bow in hand, as well as to have positive role models that will help direct their lives down straight and narrow paths as they become young adults.
Young Lives Changed Through Bowhunting
Kicking Bear has stories from kids across the country about how bowhunting has positively influenced their lives. The following are simply a few examples from kids who attended the Medicine Lodge camp.
Tyce Lonker had never shot a bow until he attended a Kicking Bear camp. After connecting with his mentor in Medicine Lodge, Tyce spent a lot of time learning how to become an effective archer. This one-on-one time helped him learn how to correctly shoot a bow. With a new fire lit inside of him, Tyce began shooting more than ever in preparation for his first bowhunt.
He got his first taste of bowhunting the next spring. While tucked inside a blind, his mentor called a tom turkey into 15 yards. Tyce let loose a perfect arrow, starting his bowhunting journey! Referencing his bowhunting experience Tyce stated, “It really just opened my eyes. It was just awesome being that close! It took a lot more work, but it was a lot of fun!” When asked how Kicking Bear has influenced his life, Tyce said, “It’s helped keep me on the right path. There’s a lot of stuff out in the world that’s not too good. So, it’s helped me decipher the good from the bad and how to be on the good side of things.”
Kirk Fischer attended the first Kicking Bear camp in Kansas and several others thereafter. As a little kid, his favorite part about camp was the wild fun he had during the marshmallow fights as well as the slip n’ slide. He got started down the path of bowhunting when he received a bow from Kicking Bear at the first camp held in Medicine Lodge. After practicing all summer long, he was able to harvest his first archery deer, a whitetail doe.
As he got older, he became more enthralled with the pursuit of bowhunting. One November, after getting zero sleep due to a high school football game, Kirk climbed his stand in the predawn darkness. Tired as he was, he knew the bucks were going to be on their feet that morning. When a 162-inch buck trailed a doe beneath his stand, Kirk made good on his shot opportunity. The lack of sleep was well worth it! Kirk said Kicking Bear has helped influence his perspective on life, “It (Kicking Bear) got me more into hunting. Which brings you down to earth. It’s very real. It’s very humbling to be in the woods…I think that correlates to how I live my life. It has
strengthened my faith, and I think through that as a young man there’s definitely circumstances where you need your faith, and you use that as the backbone of your life.”
Kirk’s brother, Jake Fischer, also got into archery and bowhunting through Kicking Bear. His indoctrination into bowhunting came when he made an impeccable double lung shot from 22 yards on his first mature whitetail buck. Jake, who claims he is now a bowhunter for life, had this to say about Kicking Bear’s positive impact on his life, “It’s changed me. Putting a bow in my hand changed me and how I see everything. I love the outdoors. It will get you, too.”
Not only have these kids become young gentlemen who spend countless hours bowhunting each season, but they give their time to instruct archery to the next generation of kids at the local Medicine Lodge Kicking Bear camp. Additionally, they volunteer each spring to guide veterans on turkey hunts.
How to Get Involved
Having personally attended the Medicine Lodge camp multiple times, as well as dozens of other Kicking Bear camps throughout the U.S., I can attest to the power of influence these camps bring to kids and their families. Kids who are stuck in tough situations, don’t have the finances to get into archery, or would otherwise be sitting on the couch scrolling social media, get the chance to shoot bows and have the time of their lives in the outdoors. Each kid leaves Kicking Bear with a purpose to their life and a huge smile on their face.
Whether you are a young kid interested in getting into archery or bowhunting, are a person with a passion for sharing the outdoors through mentorship, you would like to volunteer your time serving at a camp, or you would like to help sponsor Kicking Bear through a personal or business donation, there’s an opportunity for you. Visit https://kickingbear.org/get-involved/ to get involved. If you are interested in getting a Kicking Bear camp, adventure day, or mentored bowhunting program started in your community or email Chrissy at Chrissy@kickingbear.org.