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Club promotes appreciation of nature, wildlife
By LINDA M. LINONIS
RELATED STORY: Day set for kids, beagles
HUBABRD
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Devon Williams, 10, of Hubbard pets Black Betty, a beagle, as Monica Bassett holds the leash. They’re in a three-acre fenced “puppy pen,” where young dogs can safely learn to trail rabbits and youths can learn how to handle their dogs.
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Derek, left, and Devon Williams, both 10, of Hubbard, pet beagles Scotty and Casey at Hubbard Conservation Club, where Trumbull County Beagle Club will sponsor Youth Beagle Day on Saturday at club grounds. The beagle club promotes the breed and conducts hunts.
The club’s mission is focused on the conservation and propagation of all wildlife, both land and sea. It works to foster a friendly relationship between sportsmen and landowners and to educate the public about sportsmanlike methods of taking fish and game.
Officers: Pete Nicolaou, president; Fred Arnaut, vice president; Bob Miller, secretary; and Emil Ruha, treasurer.
Meetings: 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at club grounds, 1760 Wick Campbell Road, Hubbard Township.
Membership: John Pieton, (330) 534-3691. Membership for those 18 and older is $50 for individual and $55 for a family, with contributing 30 hours of service to the club; and $80 and $85, respectively, with no service hours. Member privileges include the firing range, catch-and- release fishing and hunting, except rabbits.
Activities: Girl Scout Day, May 23; gun show and trader days, June 5 and 6; beagle hunt, June 12; garage sale, July 24; BB gun clinic and school, July 31; youth archery clinic and school, Aug. 7, Sept. 5, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13; hunters education clinic, Aug. 16-18 and Nov. 2, 3 and 5; muzzleloader clinic and school, Sept. 4; pumpkin-sale days, Oct. 2 and 3; trappers education clinic, Oct. 9; and turkey shoots, 7 p.m. every Thursday.
Beagle club: Trumbull County Beagle Club is an offshoot of the conservation club. Call Fred Arnaut, president, at (330) 501-7650.
Hubbard Conservation Club members are wild about nature.
Just ask Pete Nicolaou, president, why. “This is my love,” he said of his appreciation of nature and wildlife. “It doesn’t cost a cent to enjoy Mother Nature.”
Nicolaou added, “I have a grandson, and I want to teach him to respect and love the outdoors.” That family focus is shared by club members.
“It’s all about the kids ... and getting them out in nature,” Nicolaou said. “We have so many activities that are youth-oriented.”
Nicolaou said the Kids Fishing Derby is a good example of what the club does. Though the May 8 event was dampened by rainy and windy weather, it still attracted 220 children. In years past, there have been as many as 350.
SDLqIt’s the look on kids’ faces when they catch a fish. It’s priceless,” he said. Nicolaou said his continuing effort with the club is because he feels that “we lost a whole generation of kids to computers and video games.” He said many young people have no understanding of nature, and the club wants to change that through its activities.
The president said the club’s 96 members, men and women, are family-oriented. The club’s goal is to foster an appreciation and respect for nature and wildlife though the educational programs it offers for adults and youths. He said some single mothers are involved as a means to get their children out in nature with adult supervision in the educational clinics.
Nicolaou is not exactly sure how long he’s been a member, but he’s served as president for about five years. He admitted at one time the club was floundering and had but $28 in the treasury. Club members are working on gathering information on the club’s history; it’s estimated the club is about 50 years old.
“A great group of people wanted the club to have a future,” he said. Now, there are organized fundraiers such as the Thursday turkey shoots, June 5 and 6 gun show and trader days, July 24 garage sale and pumpkin sale Oct. 2 and 3. There’s an ongoing scrap-metal drive; call (330) 534-8630 or (330) 501-7650 for pickup; and the building and grounds are available for rental. Call (330) 717-3877.
The healthy treasury isn’t about accumulating money but using it to provide youth activities on the club’s 42-acre property at 1760 Wick Campbell Road. “There are many different people here who are interested in helping kids,” Nicolaou said.
Bob Miller, secretary, a 16-year member, said the club has a lot to offer.
“We want people to understand that it is about limited resources. It’s our duty to educate youth about the importance of conservation and recycling.” He cited the scrap drive as an example of recycling that helps the club financially.
Miller said education about natural resources is vital so that people can turn the tide and improve the future in that respect.
Ed Wolfinger, who is involved in the hunters’ education clinic, also emphasized the youth-oriented focus. “There’s more to life than the TV.”
He said the education clinics do more than teach safety measures, they teach ethics about nature as well.
Member Fred Camouse said he believes the club helps young people understand the cycles of life and how everything is connected.
“If we continue to pollute and kill off fish and animals, we’re killing ourselves. It’s up to us to keep the cycle going.”