Thousands Participate in Hands-on Activities at Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs’ Annual Family Festival at Carpenter’s Brook
More than 4,000 people learned about habitat and wildlife conservation while participating in outdoor sports including fishing, archery, turkey calling, and skeet shooting during the 2012 Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook on September 22 and 23. The event, held annually by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, is one of the largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day in New York State.
“The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has provided valuable input in shaping habitat restoration and recreational access around Onondaga Lake,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days are educating a new generation of environmental stewards to support habitat conservation and enhancement.”
Local wildlife artists, woodsmen, authors, sportsmen and Boy Scouts presented a number of outdoor activities including: skeet shooting, waterfowl and turkey calling, archery, retriever dog demonstrations, crossbow, fly fishing, fly tying, canoeing, muzzle loading, and trout fishing.
Participants also learned about Honeywell’s Onondaga Lake Habitat Restoration Plan during their time at Carpenter’s Brook. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is overseeing Honeywell’s projects to restore wetlands in and around Onondaga Lake, improve the lake’s shoreline, and create a new lake bottom. Habitat improvements, including those at Geddes Brook and Nine Mile Creek, will enhance habitat to support a diverse array of fish, birds, and mammals while increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Weekend participants learned about new public fishing access points designed by Honeywell and DEC on Nine Mile and Onondaga creeks. The fishing access points, which opened this year, allow for safe access to the areas as well as parking.*
Other weekend events included a volunteer dinner and guest appearances by conservation officers, forest rangers, and Eddie Eagle.
“Honeywell continues to be a great supporter of our sporting community,” said Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs President Stephen Wowelko. “It is exciting to see the restoration projects, where we had input, come to life. We are pleased to work together with Honeywell on restoring and conserving Onondaga Lake.”
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.
*In 2010, Honeywell and DEC agreed to a number of environmental and community projects within the Onondaga Lake watershed. These projects are undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action taken by DEC.