PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS
AT CAMP WOODIE

OTHER CAMP WOODIE STORIES

Tour of Camp Facilities A Look at Camp Activites Camp Woodie and NCWA A Week in the Life of a Camper

During a camp week in moments other than duck call lessons, waterfowl ecology, sporting clays tournaments and decoy painting these caring professionals can be seen helping a few campers prepare a wild game dinner or explaining the value and importance of school even for a career in the outdoors.

To fully appreciate the impact Camp Woodie has on young waterfowlers, just look at the impact the camp has on the professionals. The waterfowling experts have a great time when they visit Camp Woodie. The experience leaves them with a good feeling knowing the future of these great outdoor sports has such ardent and interested young people.

Kelly Powers (in photo) & Hunter Grounds teach goose calling at Camp Woodie. Kelly Powers is the winner of a Jr. World Championship and a World Championship in goose calling. Hunter Grounds is a veteran Camp Woodie camper as well as a Jr. World Duck and Goose Champion caller. Brad Jones says, "These guys can really relate to the campers and vice versa because of their age. Kelly and Hunter have many things in common with the boys and girls, not only in an outdoor interest, but life in general."

Gregg Hood of Gregg Hood’s Southern Game Calls highly recommends Camp Woodie for everyone interested in the outdoors. Gregg Hood has come to camp for the past three years and has also repeatedly returned to film youth (camper) hunts. He also hosted a Camp Woodie staff hunt in Mississippi.

Scott Drummond Owner of Pintail Peninsula & Professional Shooting Instructor has come to camp for the past two years. Brad Jones says of Scott Drummond, "He feels very strongly that safe and effective handling of firearms is key to getting the most out of wingshooting, and the best place to start is teaching our youth."

Jeff Foiles of Foiles Migrators is a duck and goose call maker who considers Camp Woodie, "the best thing of its kind in the country, not only for waterfowl, but all aspects of wildlife." Jeff Foiles not on only works with campers on calling, but also on hunting skills such as blind building.

Eli Haydel (in photo) & Kelly Haydel of Haydel’s Game Calls: Eli Haydel was one of the first professionals to believe in and come to Camp Woodie. According to Camp Director Brad Jones, "Eli Haydel and Tim Grounds (World Champion goose caller) really got the camp off the ground." Kelly Haydel is a former schoolteacher who relates very well to the campers. He provides in-depth instruction on all aspects of waterfowling from calling and decoys to safety and respect.

Jim Strelec of Knight & Hale Game Calls covers all areas of game calling including turkey, deer, elk, and waterfowl. He was impressed that campers were brought to camp, by not only family members, but also by friends and neighbors-a great way to pass on traditions.

Marc Ackerman of Swamp Thing Mallard Calls believes that working with campers keeps him in touch with the future of waterfowling and that young people have a great time as well as learning about all types of wildlife. Marc has come to camp once a week for the past seven years. He taught past camper Ed Paul who went on to win the Jr. World Championship in duck calling. Marc Ackerman is a year-round volunteer.

Travis Sumner & Wayne Gendron of Quaker Boy not only bring duck education to camp, but also a very detailed turkey hunting class. Travis Sumner is from Edgefield, S.C. (Home of the Wild Turkey Federation) and works with campers on fine-tuning all of the aspects in a great turkey hunter. Most of these campers are well-rounded sportsmen that practice many types of hunting. Wayne Gendron is from Missouri and he covers all aspects of game calling for deer, turkey, elk, and also ducks.

Fred Zink is a champion goose caller who works with Avery and Mossy Oak, and he also instructs goose calling at Camp Woodie. He has filmed Camp Woodie hunts, which were featured on Mossy Oak’s Hunting the Country and Whistling Wings.

Hunter McLemore & Chris Pickens of Hatchie Bottom Outdoor Products have given a large amount of merchandise to Camp Woodie. Brad Jones says, "These guys are also very experienced duck hunters and have volunteered their time to teach the campers on aspects of duck hunting such as scouting, calling, and decoys."

Butch Richenbach (pictured on cover) founder of Rich-N-Tone duck and goose calls taught, world champion callers John Stephens (President of R-N-T), Will McBride, and Brent Easly. He also brought them to Camp Woodie twice in the summer of 2002. Brad Jones feels that Butch Richenbach, “really loves the campers and staff. He will joke and cut up with everyone. All of the campers and staff want him back next year. Like many of the other professionals, Butch gives personal attention to the campers.

Jim Edwards of South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources believes "the future of conservation lies in education and the best place to start is with kids. Camp Woodie offers a great opportunity to learn hunting safety and skills in a well-supervised and fun summer camp. Camp Woodie is not only in the best interest of your child, but the future of waterfowling."

David Wielicki, SCWA Executive Director and Founder of Camp Woodie as a waterfowl Biologist and hunter he knows the future of waterfowling depends on educating our youth about waterfowl conservation. Everyone at Camp Woodie is committed to this most important mission. 452-6001.