Families Enjoy Canoeing, Fishing and Archery While Learning About Onondaga Lake Cleanup During Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day
More than 6,000 people participated in outdoor sports including fishing, archery, canoeing, turkey calling, and skeet shooting during the 2016 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, Sept. 24-25. The event, which showcases habitat and wildlife conservation activities, is held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and is one of New York State’s largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
![01 Left: 15-year-old Shawn Fletcher, of Solvay, learns to canoe. Right: 7-year-old Sam Lootens, of Skaneateles, fishes for trout.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/011.jpg)
Left: 15-year-old Shawn Fletcher, of Solvay, learns to canoe.
Right: 7-year-old Sam Lootens, of Skaneateles, fishes for trout.
Attendees learned about the progress of restoring Onondaga Lake’s habitat. To date, more than 70 acres of wetlands have been created or enhanced. More than 170 species of fish, birds, and other wildlife have already returned to restored habitat near the lake.
![02 Above: 9-year-old John and 12-year-old Julia McCann, of Camillus, play a game to learn about fish species in Central New York.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/021.jpg)
Above: 9-year-old John and 12-year-old Julia McCann, of Camillus, play a game to learn about fish species in Central New York.
![03 “For the past eight years, Honeywell has partnered with the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs to host Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook. It is encouraging to see sportsmen passing down their knowledge of conservation practices to the next generation,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, pictured above (back right), with members of Cub Scout Pack 161, Den 7, of Skaneateles, and Tom Brooking (back left), from New York Sturgeon for Tomorrow.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/031.jpg)
“For the past eight years, Honeywell has partnered with the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs to host Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook. It is encouraging to see sportsmen passing down their knowledge of conservation practices to the next generation,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, pictured above (back right), with members of Cub Scout Pack 161, Den 7, of Skaneateles, and Tom Brooking (back left), from New York Sturgeon for Tomorrow.
Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen, and Boy Scouts presented a number of outdoor activities including: canoeing, skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, retriever dog demonstrations, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, muzzle loading, and trout fishing.
![04 Left: Mason Wright, a 5-year-old from Syracuse, learns how to use a crossbow. Right: Marty Ivery, a member of the Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited, teaches 9-year-old Austin Ferrin, of Auburn, to fly fish.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/041.jpg)
Left: Mason Wright, a 5-year-old from Syracuse, learns how to use a crossbow.
Right: Marty Ivery, a member of the Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited, teaches 9-year-old Austin Ferrin, of Auburn, to fly fish.
“The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, with strong support from Honeywell, is proud to present Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President David Simmons. “The event highlights the ongoing contributions made by volunteers from local sporting clubs and other conservation organizations. As Honeywell’s work progresses, so do the populations of native species, which are becoming locally abundant again.”
Other weekend events included guest appearances by conservation officers, forest rangers, and Eddie Eagle, the mascot for the National Rifle Association of America’s children’s gun safety program.
![05 Left: Jim Kilmartin, from the Clay Sportsmen’s Club, teaches Kathy Lui, of Rego Park, New York, how to use a bow and arrow. Right: Jadin Lyle, of Syracuse, tries to hit a target with a hatchet.](http://www.lakecleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/051.jpg)
Left: Jim Kilmartin, from the Clay Sportsmen’s Club, teaches Kathy Lui, of Rego Park, New York, how to use a bow and arrow.
Right: Jadin Lyle, of Syracuse, tries to hit a target with a hatchet.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.lakecleanup.com.
View more photographs of Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook.