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TINLEY PARK FISHING SHOW OFFERS OUTDOOR KID OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
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The outdoors industry has acknowledged the fact that the future of fishing and the outdoors is in the hands of today’s youth.  There is a great need to get kids involved in fishing, hunting and simply getting out of the house.  They need to remove themselves from the video games and TV and learn to enjoy the outdoor sports.
Many kids do love to hunt and fish.  They’ve learned at an early age that spending a day on the water or in the field is so rewarding.
With that, the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show is going to do their part by hosting its first Outdoor Kid of the Year competition.  It will be free and great prizes will be won with the help of great sponsors like Cabela’s.
The Cabela’s store in Hammond, IN has donated a $500.00 shopping spree for the winner of this competition.  Ross Robertson of Big Water Fishing Guide Service (www.bigwaterfishing.com) is providing another great prize.  The winner will receive a full day on the water guide trip teaching one of the tactics for catching big walleyes on Lake Erie.
“I don’t think any other outdoor show ever had a competition like this; one that’s specifically for kids.” said show manager Rich Komar.  “Our show is a fund raiser for the student athletes at the Tinley Park High School and in an effort to have parents bring their children to the show, we feel that this new addition to the show will be the highlight of the show that will be enjoyed by all.”
The competition is for boys and girls ages 10 to 15.  Registration is free and will take place at the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show on Saturday, February 13, the first day of south Chicagoland’s largest two day outdoor show.
Registration forms can be picked up at the Raffle Ticket Booth in the Main Gym.  The kids will then bring the completed form to a classroom to take a brief written test which is the first phase of the competition. Written tests will be taken at 11:30 AM, 2 PM or 4 PM Saturday only.
Questions asked will be about fishing, hunting, and nature.  Sorry Mom and Dad, the kids will be on their own taking this test.  It should take no more than about twenty minutes.  A parent or adult guardian must sign the registration form to allow the child to compete and have his/her name and photo posted on the show website.
Children who rank with one of the top 50 scores will advance to drawing for a position to compete on Sunday, February 14.
The names of the children who will be in the drawing will be posted on the show website, www.TinleyParkFishingShow.com by 6 PM on Saturday and at the Raffle Ticket booth in the main gym on Sunday.  Those who are on that list will be in a drawing on Sunday at 2 PM on the main stage.  Competitors must be present for the drawing.  Ten children will be selected by random drawing.  The competition is spread out over the two days of the show as it is anticipated that a great number of children will want to compete.
The ten competitors who have been selected in the drawing will be required to participate in a casting competition and bow shooting competition at the pool.  Once this is completed all competitors will return to the stage in the Main Gym for the knot tying competition, bird call identification, and turkey calling demonstration.  We’ll rap it all up with announcing of the winner at about 4 PM.
The Tinley Park Fishing Show Outdoor Kid of the Year competition will be hosted by the schools Football Booster Club.  The casting competition will be assisted by the Maple Bassmasters Fishing Club.  The bow shooting will take place with the help of the Bowfishing Association of Illinois.
The 17th Annual Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show dates are Saturday and Sunday, February 13 & 14, 2010 from 9AM to 5PM daily.  Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, $3.00 for children 7 to 13, and kids 6 and under will get in free. 
The show location is the Tinley Park High School, 6111 W. 175th Street, just east of Ridgeland, in Tinley Park, Illinois.  Ample free parking is available.  To see a map with directions to the show, a list of exhibitors, the seminar schedule and more, visit the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoors Show web site at www.TinleyParkFishingShow.com.  For show information, call 708 532-1900, option #8.