West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days

Outdoor Youth Challenge

The Outdoor Youth Challenge activities and map will be updated to reflect the new location at the Summit Bechtel Reserve once details are confirmed. Please check back closer to the event to learn more.

The Outdoor Youth Challenge is both a youth expo and competition, which is held annually at West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days at Stonewall Resort State Park.  Young people are exposed to a multitude of activities and displays with real hands-on learning and instructional opportunities that will encourage them to gain important knowledge and experience about wildlife, hunting, fishing, firearms safety and outdoor recreation.  Young folks can choose only to participate or they can compete.  The Outdoor Youth Challenge is perhaps the most important event at National Hunting and Fishing Days because, for some youngsters, this may be the only opportunity they will have to be exposed to these fun and exciting outdoor activities.

Any youth between 6 and 18 years can participate in the Outdoor Youth Challenge by simply showing up at National Hunting and Fishing Days and quickly registering at the Outdoor Youth Challenge tent.  The Outdoor Youth Challenge will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Children participating in the event will be eligible to win prizes – including 2 lifetime hunting and fishing licenses!  In addition, many other quality prizes dealing with hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities will also be given away each day.  Also, those youths 11-18 years of age who would like to compete will be able to do so, with five scored competitive events including casting for accuracy, archery, .22 rifle, muzzleloader and shotgun (skeet) shooting.  Youths winning the junior group (ages 11-14) or senior group (ages 15-18) will win conservation camp scholarships each day and be recognized at the Sunday afternoon awards ceremony. You must complete at least eight (8) of the events to be eligible for the prize drawings. You must be present at drawing to claim prize. After completing an event, someone there will initial your card to verify participation. Please click HERE to download a copy of the map and schedule.

So come on!  Participate or compete in these fun, exciting, and educational outdoor displays and events at the Outdoor Youth Challenge.  The world of the outdoors is waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the 2019 Outdoor Youth Challenge Schedule of Events below. 

Schedule of Events for the 2019 Outdoor Youth Challenge

AREA 2: Behind Park Headquarters Building

_____ Wildlife ID (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Boating & Water Safety (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ DNR Law Enforcement Challenge (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ WVDEP Youth Environmental Program (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ DNR Law Enforcement Laser Shot Trailer (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ NWTF Pellet Gun Shoot (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ DNR Wildlife Habitat Improvement Projects (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

AREA 3: Roanoke Building

_____ Wildlife Jeopardy Game (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Touch a Snake (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Hunt Waterfowl Like a Pro (Sat. 2pm - 3pm) (Sun. 12:30pm - 1:30pm)

_____ Bird Dog Demonstration (Sat. 12pm - 1pm) (Sun. 1pm - 2pm)

_____ 3D Topographic Sand Table (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Seminar Tent (WV Snakes _____, Coyote Calling _____, Self-Filming Hunt _____)

AREA 4: Below Roanoke Building

_____ Archery (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Youth Fishing (Sat. 10am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)\

_____ Fly Fishing (Sat. 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 2 pm) (Sun. 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm)

_____ Bow Fishing (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Deer Field Dressing/Skinning (Sat. 11am - 12pm) (Sun. 11am - 12pm)

_____ Fish Filleting (Sat. 10am - 11am) (Sun. 10am - 11am)

_____ Squirrel Field Dressing (Sat. 12:30pm - 1pm) (Sun. 12:30pm - 1pm)

_____ Tree Stand Safety (Sat. 12pm - 12:30pm) (Sun. 12pm - 12:30pm)

_____ Fish ID (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Bird ID (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Know Your Trees (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Casting (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Knot Tying 101 (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

AREA 5: Public Shooting Range

_____ .22 Rifles (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Shotgun (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)

_____ Muzzleloader (Sat. 9am - 4pm) (Sun. 9am - 4pm)