Clarion County Youth Field Day: Where the Next Generation Learns to Love the Outdoors
Published by American Horizon Media
The crack of a muzzleloader echoed across the fields. Children laughed as they cast fishing lines into the water, paddled canoes, practiced archery, and learned firearm safety under the watchful eyes of experienced instructors. Across the Fryburg Sportsmen's Club Farm, nearly every station carried the same message: the outdoors should be enjoyed safely, responsibly, and together.
For one summer day each year, nearly 500 youth ages 8-12 year olds trade screens for the outdoors.
Participants gather after the day's activities at the 2026 Clarion County Youth Field Day at the Fryburg Sportsmen's Club Farm.
Hosted by Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth (CCSFY), the annual Youth Field Day brings children together for a full day of hands-on learning designed to introduce them to Pennsylvania's outdoor traditions in a safe, educational, and welcoming environment. This year's event welcomed 464 participants, who explored 16 educational stations covering everything from fishing and canoeing to firearm safety, trapping, wildlife conservation, and outdoor survival.
At first glance, Youth Field Day looks like a day of fun. Children laugh with friends, compete to hit targets, and eagerly move from one station to the next. Behind every activity is a lesson intended to last long after the day ends.
Founded in 1992, Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing young people to the outdoors through education, safety, and conservation. The organization's mission is to educate youth in outdoor activities while promoting responsible sportsmanship, environmental stewardship, and a lifelong appreciation and respect for Pennsylvania's natural resources.
That mission comes to life through the people who make the event possible.
This year's Youth Field Day was supported by 13 Board of Directors members and approximately 96 volunteers, each donating their time to teach, encourage, and guide the next generation. From instructors explaining proper firearm handling to volunteers helping a child land their first cast or paddle a canoe for the first time, every interaction reflected the same goal: helping young people build confidence through being outdoors.
Safety is woven into every lesson.
Before a participant ever picks up a fishing rod, draws a bow, or steps onto a firing line, instructors take time to explain not only how to be safe while participating, but why safe practices matter.
Participants receive firearm safety instruction before beginning the day's shooting activities at the 2026 Clarion County Youth Field Day.
For CCSFY President Kirk Byerley, that focus has always been at the heart of the organization.
"Safety is a big part of what we do. It's what we teach. We want them to be out here and do it right. My two most important rules of the day: be safe and have fun."
Those two rules could be heard and seen throughout the day.
Volunteers patiently answered questions. Parents watched proudly from the sidelines. Children celebrated new accomplishments, whether hitting a target for the first time, paddling across the pond, or discovering a skill they had never tried before.
While many participants will remember the excitement of firing a muzzleloader or landing a fish, the lasting impact of Youth Field Day reaches much further. The event teaches responsibility alongside recreation, conservation alongside curiosity, and respect alongside adventure. It provides young people with opportunities they may not otherwise have while introducing them to traditions that have shaped generations of Pennsylvanians.
In a world where opportunities to disconnect from technology and connect with nature can sometimes be difficult to find, Youth Field Day offers something increasingly valuable: a chance to learn by hands on experience.
Year after year, Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth continues to prove that preserving Pennsylvania's outdoor heritage isn't just about protecting wildlife or passing down skills. It's about investing in young people, creating opportunities for them to learn, and ensuring that the next generation understands both the responsibility and the joy that come with enjoying the outdoors.
For hundreds of 8-12 year old youth who walked the grounds of the Fryburg Sportsmen's Club Farm this year, that investment began with two simple rules:
Be safe. Have fun.
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