Miss-Delectable
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http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2005/11/03/news/058news02.txt
With the sun peeking over the horizon, Rochelle Bartholet, 14, scanned the wooded acreage for a buck grazing in the morning hours. It was her first hunt, and she had to rely more heavily on her eyes than most youth to spot a deer blending into the wilderness.
Bartholet is deaf, and movement, not sound, would alert her to an animal's presence.
Along with seven other students from the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton, Bartholet participated in the first annual deaf youth hunt at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola. The sport was planned in conjunction with youth hunt season last weekend.
“The students were so pumped,” said Dick Keller, MSD student life director. “They were exhausted when we got back on Sunday, but they were so excited telling their stories to their friends about seeing or killing a deer.”
Bartholet was the first of three students to make a hit.
“I was confident,” Bartholet said Tuesday. “I did see a deer with seven points, but he left and then the (doe) came.”
Bartholet almost was unable to participate because shortly before the group departed from the school, a family member was unable to accompany her. Students were required to have a parent come along.
Keller said rather than depriving Bartholet of the experience, he arranged for an MSD staff member to accompany her.
“She was terribly excited about the hunt,” Keller said with a laugh. “It was such a heartwarming experience for the parents and children to have a weekend hunt together. Those parents asked us to continue the opportunity for them because they were grateful for the time they had with their children.”
The hunt was arranged by Missouri conservation agent Dennis Garrison - in part to expose more deaf youth to the great outdoors, but also to help families spend additional time with their children. During the school year at MSD, students are housed in dorms and only go home on the weekends.
“A lot of those who participated were the grandfathers,” Garrison said. “They came up and told me, ‘You don't know what this means to me, to spend a weekend with my grandchild and hunt.'”
Keller echoed Garrison's sentiments, describing a father who was close to tears when the trip had concluded.
“One parent came up to me while the students were loading the bus, and he said how important it was to have a weekend with his son,” Keller said. “The student typically spends time with his mother, and he got him for the entire weekend of the hunt.”
Garrison said the idea evolved to organize a deaf youth hunt after watching deaf adults hunting and fishing. He rarely saw children participating in the sport, and the outdoor programs involving conservation agents are focused on hearing children.
Housing, food and equipment were donated, allowing the students to hunt for free.
“All they had to do was show up and have a good time,” Keller said, explaining that a conservation agent accompanied each child on their hunt.
“I want this to be an annual event,” Garrison said.
Bartholet decided to donate her venison to a needy family in the Osceola area.
“I wouldn't mind going again,” Bartholet said with a smile.
With the sun peeking over the horizon, Rochelle Bartholet, 14, scanned the wooded acreage for a buck grazing in the morning hours. It was her first hunt, and she had to rely more heavily on her eyes than most youth to spot a deer blending into the wilderness.
Bartholet is deaf, and movement, not sound, would alert her to an animal's presence.
Along with seven other students from the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton, Bartholet participated in the first annual deaf youth hunt at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola. The sport was planned in conjunction with youth hunt season last weekend.
“The students were so pumped,” said Dick Keller, MSD student life director. “They were exhausted when we got back on Sunday, but they were so excited telling their stories to their friends about seeing or killing a deer.”
Bartholet was the first of three students to make a hit.
“I was confident,” Bartholet said Tuesday. “I did see a deer with seven points, but he left and then the (doe) came.”
Bartholet almost was unable to participate because shortly before the group departed from the school, a family member was unable to accompany her. Students were required to have a parent come along.
Keller said rather than depriving Bartholet of the experience, he arranged for an MSD staff member to accompany her.
“She was terribly excited about the hunt,” Keller said with a laugh. “It was such a heartwarming experience for the parents and children to have a weekend hunt together. Those parents asked us to continue the opportunity for them because they were grateful for the time they had with their children.”
The hunt was arranged by Missouri conservation agent Dennis Garrison - in part to expose more deaf youth to the great outdoors, but also to help families spend additional time with their children. During the school year at MSD, students are housed in dorms and only go home on the weekends.
“A lot of those who participated were the grandfathers,” Garrison said. “They came up and told me, ‘You don't know what this means to me, to spend a weekend with my grandchild and hunt.'”
Keller echoed Garrison's sentiments, describing a father who was close to tears when the trip had concluded.
“One parent came up to me while the students were loading the bus, and he said how important it was to have a weekend with his son,” Keller said. “The student typically spends time with his mother, and he got him for the entire weekend of the hunt.”
Garrison said the idea evolved to organize a deaf youth hunt after watching deaf adults hunting and fishing. He rarely saw children participating in the sport, and the outdoor programs involving conservation agents are focused on hearing children.
Housing, food and equipment were donated, allowing the students to hunt for free.
“All they had to do was show up and have a good time,” Keller said, explaining that a conservation agent accompanied each child on their hunt.
“I want this to be an annual event,” Garrison said.
Bartholet decided to donate her venison to a needy family in the Osceola area.
“I wouldn't mind going again,” Bartholet said with a smile.