Private school raffles rifle

rifle_raffle

Not all private schools are pro-gun, but this one certainly is:

The Blue Ridge School is raffling off a gun that celebrates Greene County history.

The BRS is hosting a year-long raffle for an original and historic Henry 30/30 decorated rifle, handcrafted by Wellington Ltd. — a company known for crafting high-end rifles and converting them into heirlooms.

Vinton Bruton, assistant headmaster for co-curricular programs and director of the outdoorsman program, said the rifle commemorates Greene County history.

“There were only 13 of these historic rifles made — and they are numbered zero through 12,” Bruton said, noting the rifle was crafted in 2010 and bought by the school shortly after. “We have zero or the ‘proof.’”

He noted the gun has artistic engravings of important Greene County historical figures and events such as Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart, Brig. Gen. George A. Custer, Nathanael Greene and more.

Bruton said the rifle is worth approximately $3,000 and, while it is in perfect working condition, is meant to serve as an heirloom or display piece.

The school is only selling 249 tickets and more than half have already sold, Bruton said. All the proceeds from the rifle benefit the school’s outdoorsman program.

“The goal of the outdoorsman program at Blue Ridge is to teach the guys ethical, safe and responsible hunting and fishing,” Bruton said. “Along with gun safety and hunting techniques, the students learn mapping and navigational skills, first aid, canoeing, fly fishing and skeet shooting.”

He noted the program is very safety oriented and said the students take a hunter safety class that gives them to opportunity to acquire a hunting license.

Bruton said 26 boys tried out for the team last year and 13 made the cut. “I try and take on a mix of novices and experienced hunters to get a good balance,” he noted.

Bruton added the boys in the program partake in a yearly hunting trip to a large farm in North Carolina owned by an alumni’s father.

“Everyone who goes on the trip usually has killed a deer,” Bruton said, noting the program has a “field to table” approach where the students are taught how to skin and dress their kill and then prepare it to eat. Bruton noted the farm is several thousand acres with a population of over 1,000 deer.

“There is also a wildlife biologist on site to teach the boys about the anatomy of the deer—how to tell its age and whether or not it was healthy,” Bruton said. “It’s really a unique program.”

The students also learn how to fly fish and canoe and Bruton said the boys take a bass fishing trip on the Shenandoah River as well as a trout fishing trip on Albemarle County streams.

“I don’t want to tell you exactly where because then we’d be giving up our good fishing spots,” Bruton joked.

While there is not set date to draw for the raffle yet, Bruton said the drawing will occur sometime in spring of 2015. Raffle tickets cost $20 and can be purchased online at www.blueridgeschool.com/page.cfm?p=2866, call Bruton at (434) 992-0685 ext. 138 or purchase at any BRS event.

Source: http://www.dailyprogress.com/greenenews/news/with-raffle-blue-ridge-school-is-offering-a-shot-at/article_f0e1ed72-39cb-11e4-8606-0017a43b2370.html

I have to say I’m impressed. Not only is this rifle awesome, but their outdoorsman program is I wish I had experienced as a child.

The boys have worked hard for months to… prepare for this big hunt, the outdoorsmen were continuously drilled on safety procedures for both bows and firearms. “They have spent hours upon hours working on their skills and have been on a few unsuccessful hunts. For them to harvest a deer that weekend was the pinnacle of their fall trimester, proving that their dedication and hard work had paid off,” says Mr. Parvin.

Source

What a fine school indeed.

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