Participants and mentors of last year’s mentored youth wild turkey hunt.

The Light Foundation and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are once again teaming up to offer a youth wild turkey hunt as part of the Rhode Island youth turkey weekend.

This event is free and open for all youth 12-15 and is a great way for new or experienced hunters to get out and enjoy the outdoors while also learning how to safely hunt. The event is being run by Matt Light, a three-time Super Bowl Champion and former NFL New England Patriot.

The two-day event takes place over the weekend of April 19-20 and also includes a welcome dinner on Friday night at Addieville East Farm in Mapleville, Rhode Island. During this time, hunters will have the opportunity to meet and spend time with their mentors and learn about firearm safety and hunting rules and regulations. The hunt itself takes place on Friday, April 20, and the mentors will guide the youth hunters throughout the process. According to the Light Foundation, the event also includes a curriculum based on leadership.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must submit a 500-word essay addressing the theme “What Matters to You?” by April 10, 2024. Applicants will be judged on the basis of their essay and will be selected to participate in the youth mentored turkey hunt. The deadline to apply is March 10, 2024.

If you are interested in applying, please visit the Light Foundation website by clicking here.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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