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Seventeen-year-old Neil Lewis got his first taste of hunting in the New Brunswick wilderness recently, as a participant in the Atlantic Provinces' Youth Hunting and Fishing Exchange Program. He was accompanied by his father, Albert 'Jimmy' Lewis, on the three-day upland game hunt provided by White Pines Hunting Lodge, which is located on Route 104 in Cloverdale, just a few kilometres west of Millville.
Natural Resources Minister Donald Arseneault welcomed the pair as they arrived at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre to acquire their licenses.
"Hunting and fishing are time-honoured traditions in Atlantic Canada," he said. "The Youth Exchange trips give young people a chance to enjoy a genuine outdoor experience while ensuring the safe and wise use of the natural resources of our region."
One student from each of the four Atlantic Provinces is selected in a contest open to all 13- to 16-year-olds who have successfully completed firearm safety and hunter education courses.
The Youth Exchange Program allows a student to participate in a unique hunting/fishing experience another province, while reinforcing the safe and ethical practices learned while attending the Firearm Safety/Hunter Education course. More information on how to enroll in a firearm safety or hunter education course is available online.
The Atlantic Province's Youth Hunting and Fishing Exchange Program was initiated in 2000 and is endorsed by the governments of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, with the support of sponsors with an interest in wildlife.
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