A fun, skill-building, educational and entertaining event for area families will be at Charlton Park Saturday, Sept 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Barry County Youth Day gives families an easy way to take a break from video games and let youth from toddlers to teens try their hands at more than 30 hands-on activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking, archery, mountain biking, camping, as well as see a variety of sport dog demonstrations and outdoor education displays.

Local experts help novices get their bearings and offer tips and tricks while having fun; parents can get advice from experts on how to get outdoors more. The event is free and kids get a free lunch. The day is fully funded by donations and run by a network of local outdoor enthusiasts who want to help kids get the same exposure to outdoor sports that they had as children, said Sarah Nelson, executive director of the Barry Conservation District.

“The Youth Day mission is simple-get kids outdoors. In doing so, the group hopes to preserve Michigan’s outdoor heritage by inspiring future generations to enjoy and protect all of our natural treasures...Barry County Youth Day organizers are dedicated to making this event as accessible as possible to all children,” Nelson said.

This year’s event will feature more than two dozen groups that engage in outdoor activities.

For more information visit https://www.barrycd.org/home/youth-day or www.facebook.com/bcyouthday.

Photo: Future bow hunters get tips on archery from experts at last year’s Youth Day.

(photo supplied)