Randy Johnsen gets a “high five” from a youngster at 2025's workshop for helping him build his own mink box, the first part of his mink kit. (Photo courtesy of Mike Lewis)

HERMANSVILLE — District 3 of the Upper Peninsula Trappers Association is hosting the Arduin Brothers Kids Workshop in Hermansville at 8 a.m. Central Time Saturday Feb. 7. Organizers will close the doors for cleanup around 3 in the afternoon. All are welcome.

This will be the 21st year this event has been held and the praise from parents keeps rolling in, year after year. The workshops introduce youngsters to a pursuit that gets kids into the great outdoors (away from their screens), gets them some fresh air and exercise, some lessons on outdoor ethics, information on sustaining healthy wildlife populations, enjoyment in catching some fur and pride in properly preparing their furs for market.

Here is what Jeremy Lundin has been saying about the workshop, “I have been taking my kids every year and have admired how much they have learned from attending and am thankful for all the prizes and trapping supplies they have won. Now they are both, not just attending every year, but are now pitching in to help with the event and getting to see other smiling kids win prizes and learn about the joys of trapping.”

Every youngster wins; Last year organizers gave out four different trapping kits that kids could take home and use on their own trap lines or to help their parents or grandparents on their lines. And these kits proved to be real winners, so why not do the same this year! The weasel and squirrel kits are recommended for the very youngest. The mink kits and muskrat kits still involve smaller traps and easier fur handling for those that are a bit older. The raccoon kits should work best for the older kids as the traps are a bit harder to set and the fur-handling is a bit more difficult. The three demos by experienced trappers show newcomers how to use their kits, how to find and catch animals, and how to become successful and ethical trappers and future conservationists. And even the old, experienced trappers can learn a few things by watching the demos and talking to other trappers.

For more information visit www.uptrappers.com or call Mike Lewis at 906-774-3592.