The 8th Annual National Hunting and Fishing Day event held at the World of Energy in Seneca, S.C. on Saturday, Sept. 20 was a huge success with an estimated 1,500 people in attendance. Children of all ages and their families helped celebrate the great outdoors with hands-on activities such as kayaking, archery, fly fishing and much more. Dozens of conservation organizations were on hand with exhibits to help educate attendees on the importance of taking care of our natural resources. “This is a wonderful event for families to enjoy together in a beautiful outdoor setting at the World of Energy,” said Angela Viney of Upstate Forever, one of the event's sponsors. “There is truly an activity for everyone to enjoy, and it is also a good venue to learn about conservation from many local groups and agencies attending.”
The World of Energy is the education center for the Oconee Nuclear Station and provides a great backdrop for the activities associated with National Hunting and Fishing Day. "Our mission at the World of Energy is to educate the community on the benefits of nuclear energy," said Amanda Dow, communications consultant for the World of Energy. "Part of our educational process here at the center is to focus on conservation efforts, so hosting this event is a perfect fit."
The annual Hunting and Fishing Day event is made possible through partnerships with Duke Energy, Upstate Forever, US Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, Weatherby Foundation, Outdoor Adventures, Academy Sports, Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Clemson Cooperative Extension, SC 4H Shooting Sports, DNR and Trout Unlimited.
Hunting and angling together are an economic force worth $76 billion a year. A Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation report shows if hunters and anglers were a nation, their Gross Domestic Product would rank 57 out of 181 countries. About 1.6 million jobs depend on hunters and anglers. The economic impact of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing in South Carolina is estimated at nearly $3.8 billion.
