2018 Wish Hunt Sponsored by Lansing SCI Chapter
This year’s 2018 Wish Hunt was extremely memorable. For the past several years, Jim and Janet Leonard have spearheaded this trip. They have accompanied the recipients for weekend trips of hunting and fun. However, this year, Jim Leonard unexpectedly passed away just a few short weeks before the hunt. It was a very sad day for our chapter to lose one of our most active and founding members.
Fortunately, Lansing member, Barry Oleksyk, was able to step in and represent the SCI Lansing Area Chapter at the 2018 Wish Hunt that took place on November 8-11.
“I was going into this event kind of blind. I agreed to do it last minute so I didn’t know what to expect. It was a tremendous experience!” Barry said.
The annual hunt has been officially named the Jim and Janet Leonard Safari Youth Wish Hunt, in honored of this great couple.
Thank you for hosting the 2018 Wish Hunt
We are very grateful to the Cedar Hollow Lodge in Grayling, Michigan for hosting the 2018 Wish Hunt. SCI LAC sponsored two health-challenged hunters, Evan and Charlie, through and in coordination with the Foundation for Hope Outdoor Adventures.
Craig Mortz (SCI Lansing Chapter Member) and Tony Semple (Former Detroit Lion Football) started the Foundation. Watch the video below for their story.
The Youth Hunters We Sponsored
The Lansing Area Safari Club chapter sponsored two youth hunters for this event, Evan and Charlie. There were a total of 5 hunters attending that weekend. The youth are all disabled in some way. Typically they are in wheelchairs or mobile-impaired. Each youth hunter is paired up with a skilled guide who teaches them how to hunt (if they don’t already know) and takes them out hunting every day.
“It was so amazing to see these huge deer at this facility,” Barry admits. “The best moment for me was watching the video of one of the boys when he shot his deer. I didn’t get to actually see him do it that day, but the video was priceless.”
Barry said he geared up every morning and went out with the hunters and guides to shacks that were set up for the youth. “The facility was amazing. They had everything these kids needed. The guides were great. They had good food and entertainment at night. One night a guy brought in a brick oven and made pizzas for everyone.”
Thank you for the taxidermy for the youth
The Wildlife Gallery, who also works with our chapter, provides complimentary taxidermy to the youth. We presented the two young hunters with their mounts at our March 16th banquet. This was a really fun event and to make it every better, Evan and Charlie had no idea they were getting their mounts. They were really surprised!
Thank you to everyone who supports SCI
None of this could be possible without your generous participation in our Lansing Area Chapter Fundraiser each year. Thank you to everyone who supported the event by attending, donating, fundraising, and participating in our auctions and raffles.
If you would like to see more pictures from the 2018 Wish Hunt, click here.
Do you want to apply for the 2019 Wish Hunt?
You or the youth you know will register through the Foundation for Hope Outdoor Adventures® and must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a citizen of the United States of America
- Must be of a minimum age of 10 and maximum age of 25 at the time of the Outdoor Adventure Event
- Have approval by a parent or guardian if under 18 years of age
- Provide two (2) independent physician letters indicating the life-threatening or life-altering condition
- A color photo of the applicant must accompany the application
Are you interested in joining Safari Club?
If you are passionate about hunting, hunters’ rights, conservation, and providing hunting opportunities like the Wish hunt, we would love for you to visit our chapter and find out more about membership. Please go to our membership website page.
If you have any questions or need more information please feel free to contact us at scilansing@gmail.com.information.
