Kids Get a Handle on Guns

The sound of gun shots could be heard echoing throughout Nashport Saturday.

The 34th annual Greenwing event hosted by the Zanesville chapter of Ducks Unlimited gave kids a unique opportunity to learn about conservation, gun and hunting safety, all while getting hands-on experience in trap shooting and archery.

Ducks Unlimited’s Ben Whitacre said, "I think it’s good for the kids to get outside most of them are stuck inside playing their video games, watching TV, so this is a great event for them to get outside learn about the outdoors, learn about hunting safety."

It’s an event Whitacre enjoyed as a child. Saturday he volunteered his time encouraging other kids to do the same.

"Oh I loved it, I came out when I was a kid, 10-15 years ago, I look forward to it every year," said Whitacre. "I talk to a lot of parents that they just got the pull on the elbow every day, ‘When is the event, are we going, are we going, is it raining, what’s going on?’ So I know the feeling, it’s a great feeling to get to come out handle the guns, watch everything that’s going on."

About 130 kids took part in Saturday’s event.