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YEP Impact

I have participated in several YEP events, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I've also seen the positive impact on a club that embraced them and other youth initiatives. Their membership grew, as did the number of active members.

But I'm wondering if the program has been successful as it should or could be, across the country???

I think it's a great program, I'm just wondering if it's been embraced as it should be, OR if we need to start publicizing some of the positive impacts on various clubs, so that others will get on the band-wagon.

Allen - can you share any insights or statistics? Has it grown overall hunt participation? Have the number of YEP events been steadily increasing? Any insights on club growth, for those that have been active?

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654

I think the YEP program has done what it was intended to do. You have to remember that the first UKC youth only events were the championship series events which we also still hold. Those were for the national breed associations and state associations. Generally larger events, more prizes, brought families in from farther distances. At the same time, there were more local clubs offering to host championship series events than there were events to be hosted.

So we started the Youth Educational Program. Because these events were also based on a bonus championship points schedule, we had to somewhat limit the number of them in an effort to maintain the integrity of the nite hunt degrees. So it was decided that we would require participating clubs to also provide a structured educational experience. I first envisioned it being set up like a hunter safety class where the kids attended three different nights of lessons working out of a work book. It was a great program and very educational but was maybe too structured and only attracted the most organized and motivated of clubs.

So we lightened up the educational requirements a little and I think we have found a pretty good balance. We still wish to restrict these events to the most organized and motivated of clubs. We want these events to really put the spotlight on the kids for a full day and not just be a show up and put a nite champion win on dad's dog. So I think the reason you are enjoying them is because we have some really great clubs involved who are doing it for the right reason and doing a good job of it.

Without running a report I think we are licensing close to 50 per year? I would love to get as many kids as we can to each one but I'm not sure one of our goals is to see how many of these events we can license per year. I'd like to maintain the quality and make sure they are successful for the right reasons.

Good question. I think it's one of the UKC programs I'm most proud of.

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If we're not suppose to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?

Thanks for the information and background, Todd! I can understand the need to strike a balance, between the integrity of the points being awarded and not being overly strict or cumbersome.

The one's I attended seemed to strike a good balance, although no event is perfect. And 50 per year is impressive... it's good to hear there's that level exposure!

Without watering it down, but yet achieving geographical expansion, have you considered awarding more licensing, but requiring greater distance or time, between events?

Not wanting to get into your guy's business too much, but I was at a local club meeting recently, where the topic of hosting a YEP event came up. I pitched in my two cents, on it not only being a rewarding thing to do for your local youth, but I've seen it as a rejuvenating for some clubs. So if you had any information to share, to supplement my "sales pitch" I thought the better off I would be. And/or if there were any gotchas, or lessons learned to share, I could pass that on, as well.

Thanks again!

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David Schmidt
219-614-0654