good and bad news B&A

[ohio ramrod]

I just got back from the B&A rendezvous. The good news is there were two new families getting involved in shooting black powder and attending rendezvous. The bad news they were both couples of mature adults. We still need to get youth coming or who will pound in our tent stakes? :idunno:

 

[Silky921]

I've convinced probably 10 friends over the years to come to events, and most are lifers now. To be honest though, I am concerned about the future of this hobby.

What is the B & A?

 

[ohio ramrod]

B&A stands for the B&A Muzzleloading and Primative archery club at Roswell Ohio. A good family orientated club. Like too many clubs they used to be big in the seventies and early eighties but have been shrinking ever since 2000. :hmm:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Quickest way to get youth involved is to BAN them....That's right!....no children allowed. Can't join until you have grey hair.... :haha:

I call it "reverse psychology"... :hmm:

 

[Stringbean]

I tend to be more concerned with what we can offer our children than how our children can carry on our sport. I don't want black powder sports to endure for the sake of the sport but rather for the values that can be taught through the sport. Maybe that is what we all want and if it is I think a good way to do that is to show some interest in a young individual and their family. I was introduced to a phrase early in my career that went something like this: "People dont care what you know until they know that you care". I think this is especially true for youngens'. If we want them around then we need to invest in them. Although, i do like the reverse psychology approach as well,
String

 

[coloradoclyde]

People always say; "the children are our future"....So they try to brainwash and indoctrinate them.....That model had failed for the last 2000 years....
The stark reality is, Children want their own future....Not someone else's

The other limiting factor on the popularity of this sport is; Corporate profitability. The ability of corporations to generate huge profits from this sport dictates it's mainstream popularity.
Since this is mainly a "do it your self" sport.....popularity will be limited to sub-culture status until a large portion of society rejects the corporate business model.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I agree, the main reason I got started in rendezvous twenty five years ago was the fact that then I had very little money and two sons who liked to camp. We quickly discovered that our home made camp fixtures and accessories were admired not ridiculed. Since I already had the muzzleloading rifle and cast iron chicken fryer and a large piece of canvas, building a primitive camp was simply a matter of observing and then making what we needed. As the years past I went from carrying every thing for the three of us in a 79 Fairmont to a truck and trailer full of tent, rain fly, camp furniture, and trade goods. :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Agreed!....
I would also say that, the "Maker " generation is exactly the people this sport shoud be courting....Far more so than hunters....
The "bushcrafters" also have a lot in common with the average rendezvous goer.....they just need to let go of the modern mentality.