AO : Can you tell us a little bit about Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids ? What inspired you to develop this program ? TN : Being honored to know the great Fred Bear my whole life , it was on what turned out to be Fred ’ s last hunt in , October of 1987 , that I was blessed with another very special time with the great man . It was one of the most powerful moments in my life . Fred told me how he wasn ’ t so sure of this loud rock-n-roll Motor City Madman at first , until he learned of my militant defiance of substance abuse , gung-ho law enforcement support , family values , and nonstop dedication to promoting bowhunting and conservation to the masses everywhere I went . But the most important thing he told me this memorable day , was how I should ignore my critics , who he said were just “ small-minded , jealous fools who didn ’ t understand how to stand up for the important things in a meaningful , effective way .” Fred died that following April , and I decided to take his words to the ultimate level and create a nonprofit children ’ s charity . Our 501-C3 Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids was unleashed , and with an amazing army of hardcore , dedicated volunteers , we set about to bring the outdoor lifestyle to its maximum visibility by holding annual camps where we teach archery , bowhunting , hunter education , firearm ’ s safety and marksmanship , trapping , fishing , conservation , animal husbandry , slingshot marksmanship , spear chucking , woodsmanship , wood crafting , wilderness survival , flint napping , wildlife education , skinning , gutting , butchering , and a strong sense of militant anti-substance abuse , and how being the best you can be – clean and sober – is the only way to obtain The American Dream . We have graduated more than 16,000 youngsters in Michigan , Colorado , South Dakota , Nebraska and Iowa , and we fill all camps each year to capacity .
AO : WHY DO YOU ENJOY THIS TIME OF YEAR SO MUCH ?
TN : Nature heals , and during the explosive natural phenomenon of the fall season of harvest , the Nugent family is moved deep in our souls to celebrate Thanksgiving every step of the way . Tis the hunting season and I am in 100 % committed . Hunting , fishing , and trapping are essential responsibilities to a balanced , healthy , natural world , and we are an integral part of America ' s history and culture . Once necessary to survive , hunting and fishing are now two very popular forms of recreation , while keeping millions of American families connected to the land and its precious creatures . Like all my friends , we hunt simply because we are hunters