ESCANABA — Last summer, the Upper Peninsula Trappers Association hosted the National Trappers Association Convention and the NTA’s Kids Cave was such a hit that they have now made it a part of their own annual convention.

“We were amazed at how much fun kids were having and saw more smiling faces then we’ve seen at other youth events. I recommend that the Kids Cave remain a part of all future conventions,” said Bob Steinmetz, long-time member of U.P. Trappers. “Why should we wait till the schedule is complete to announce this exciting new addition?”

The cave will probably be a huge tent combined with the Pocket Park on the U.P. State Fair grounds. Inside will be fishing, archery, pellet guns, building mink boxes, a coloring and kraft table for younger kids, a mystery event called bandaging a bear, question and answer with experienced trappers, panning for gold with prizes for the top three prospectors, a door prize for all, a hay scramble with hidden coins and even some folding money and several other fun and instructional stations.

The Kids Cave is only one small part of the two-day Trappers Convention and Outdoor Expo being held on Friday and Saturday July 12-13 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. The cave will be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. both days.

For more information on the cave or the convention itself, stay tuned to www.uptrappers.com where more information will be coming soon as details are finalized: Trapping supply and other vendors, food vendors, instructional demonstrations, the annual fish fry, and the list goes on. Fun and learning for the whole family in the vacation paradise that Yoopers call “God’s Country”