As one camper quipped, “Shooting was an incredible experience that definitely hit the target.” Today, the older bunks went to the Tri States Rod & Gun Club where the instructors, along with some members and volunteer shooters who drove up to Camp Simcha, showed them how to shoot. During the preliminary safety overview, the instructor said that once given the green-light, they should “shoot at will.” Then he added, “There actually is a guy named Will here. So when I say ‘fire at will,’ take your hands – ” he shaped his into a pistol – “and go boomboomboom.”
After the initial safety lecture, lunch, and a second safety run-through, the campers split up into 4 groups: rifles, military rifles, shotguns, and a photo station. Every girl received protective glasses, earplugs, and red headphones (except Shayna, who somehow managed to find pink ones…). They each stood in little compartments, where they were individually assisted by the amazing instructors and volunteer shooters.
The campers shot at still targets, targets that spun when hit, and floating balloons. They were able to put words to shoot at on poster-targets, such as “cancer sucks,” and all the things they hate about cancer. At the end, all that was left of the targets were shreds. When asked about the experience, one girl said, “It was really nice to reciprocate what cancer did to me, and give it back to cancer.”
For some of the campers, this was their first time shooting, while others were already pros, (Rachel R hit one of the spinning targets so many times it broke!), but they all had an incredible time, raving about the trip. “I loved shooting things!”; “It was awesome.”; “I loved holding a gun like Angelina Jolie – it was like I was in a movie, shooting things!” A huge shout out to the instructors and volunteers who made this unforgettable experience possible.
-T