A Weekend of Hunting and Heritage in Illinois

Hunting is more than just the harvest. It’s about connecting to the outdoors, passing down traditions to the next generation, hanging out with friends and family, and building skills. A small group of youths recently got the full hunting experience in Pecatonica, Illinois.

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) partnered with the Illinois Conservation Foundation and Painters District Council 30 to host the Second Annual Torstenson Youth Conservation Education Center (TYCEC) Youth Hunt from Oct. 11 to 14.

Spearheaded by Ryan Anderson of Painters District Council 30 and Illinois Conservation Foundation board member, youths learned about steps to deer hunting such as safety protocols, tracking deer, harvesting and field dressing. In addition, youths experienced fishing and rifle shooting.

Located 14 miles northwest of Rockford, Illinois adjacent to the Pecatonica River, the 750-acre TYCEC includes an 11,000-square-foot lodge, rifle and archery shooting range, a stocked fishing pond, hiking trails and more. Since 2012, the USA and union partners completed maintenance projects and hosted events, including renovations in 2023 as well as the Illinois BBQ Bash to raise money for the TYCEC.

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Conservation Programs Manager Sam Phipps called the TYCEC “an ideal white-tail paradise” and considered it a perfect location for this USA-sponsored event.

“Part of the USA’s mission is preserving North America’s outdoor heritage and introducing youth to the outdoors,” Phipps said. “The Torstenson Youth Center and Illinois Conservation Foundation are prime examples of preserving North America’s outdoor heritage by getting these kids involved in the outdoors and creating that passion within them so, years after this experience, they want to continue getting outside and deer hunting.”

Bank of Labor Vice President & Business Development Officer Tori Letson wanted to give her 11-year-old son Shipp an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a different state, learn new skills from other adults and build relationships alongside other kids who shared similar interests.

“I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors because it’s focused, uninterrupted quality time together,” she said. “I think that’s really kind of where it all begins. Of course, there’s skill and strategy to learning how animals think and move and operate in their environment. That’s something that has always intrigued me, and I’ve tried to teach my son some of that along the way.”

Nearly every youth harvested a deer, including Shipp.

“The only other deer he’s shot before was with my dad, and it dropped immediately,” Letson said. “This time, that didn’t happen. It ran off about 20 to 25 yards, and he got really anxious thinking since it ran off, he had not killed it. We waited maybe 20 minutes or so to go out there and check and track it. Sure enough, it was maybe 20 yards from us. Once he realized it was officially dead, that he had hit it in the right place, he was excited.”

Hunting is all that Steven Peters’ 10-year-old daughter, Addison, thinks about. While she didn’t kill a deer at this year’s youth hunt, Steven noticed she came into the weekend confident after having success in 2023.

“Since she shot a deer last year, her confidence has been through the roof,” he said. “Going into last year, she never shot a firearm. Even up until she killed her first deer, she was really hesitant. Ever since she got that shot off, it’s really helped her mature.”

For Phipps, hunting has always held a special place in his heart.

“Growing up, deer camp was something so special to me,” Phipps said. “I hope to not only continue that in my family, but I hope to continue that at the Torstenson Center for these kids to experience deer camp. In today’s world, it seems like hunting has been so commercialized, and everyone is so focused on killing the big deer and posting on social media. To have a place like Torstenson where you can come in, we can all do deer camp and spend time together, it’s special. I know it will be something these kids remember for the rest of their lives.”

Making memories with her son is what Letson will remember most about the weekend.

“Getting to experience nature with him and be out in the middle of nowhere away from the business of day-to-day life and watching him accomplish something he is proud of…you can’t put a price tag on that,” she said. “It was fun to watch him go from feeling a little bit nervous and apprehensive about shooting a gun he’d never shot to the confidence boost that comes with successfully dropping a deer.”

Peters, who is a LIUNA Local 660 member, enjoyed spending time with fellow union members.

“It just meant a lot,” Peters said. “When you can get a bunch of brothers and sisters together and do something that everyone shares a passion for, whether it’s just being outdoors or hunting, it’s really cool. You get together, you get to cut loose, talk about work, you’re out there hunting and fishing with your kids and creating memories that are going to last the rest of your lives.”