For Immediate Release: 8-20-24
Contact: Ruth Ann Lee
RuthAnn@OHECyes.org
608-358-1708
More Mobile Closets Available
Mentors, Learn to Hunt organizers, and others now have access to free loaner gear in three “Mobile Closets” that go anywhere in Wisconsin. At its July 15 board meeting, Friends of Poynette Game Farm entered into an agreement with Outdoor Heritage Education Center, a charitable non-profit organization based in Hazel Green. The collaboration adds OHEC hunting clothes, boots, and gear to FPGF’s two Learn to Hunt trailers that also carry other shooting sports equipment and supplies.
“Once event organizers learn what we can provide for their guests with these Mobile Closets to add to their safety, comfort, and success,” said FPGF President Kevyn Quamme, “we expect demand will increase quite a bit, so it’s important to register online asap to reserve a unit.”
The three Mobile Closets, like OHEC’s seven Touch of the Wild education trailers are available to event organizers, according to OHEC Executive Director Ruth Ann Lee, who coordinates scheduling through www.OHECyes.org.
Lee said that other OHEC Touch of the Wild trailers are staged in Green Bay, southeastern Wisconsin, southwestern Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and south central Wisconsin making them easily accessible in each region. Mobile Closets are currently staged north of Madison and south of Platteville. Anyone who would like to be a permanent Wisconsin staging venue should contact RuthAnn@OHECyes.org. However, all three Mobile Closets and any of the seven ToW trailers can be transported anywhere. To fully appreciate the scheduling challenge and all the places that host a Touch of the Wild, Lee recommends watching the “Everywhere” music video on OHEC’s website.
Lee said, “Great partners like Friends of Poynette Game Farm have been working with OHEC on MOHEE and other projects for years. This Mobile Closets collaboration will be helping youth, and adults gain a deeper appreciation for the outdoors as we recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.”
The original OHEC Mobile Closet was funded in part with donations from SCI Northeast Wisconsin Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation, SCI Wisconsin Chapter, Izaak Walton League of America Wisconsin Division, and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.
Each May, OHEC hosts the big Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expos in Poynette and Milwaukee, reaching thousands of students, teachers, and parents. Year-round, OHEC operates the Touch of the Wild fleet of hands-on education trailers that travel across Wisconsin educating new hunters and anglers. For decades, OHEC has also supported school archery and clay target teams, teaching outdoor skills while recruiting future generations of conservationists.
