Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kurt Dove is committed to providing youth the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Since 2012, Dove has partnered with an organization that echoes his beliefs, The Donald R. Kemp Youth Hunting and Fishing club of Las Cruces, N.M. The DRK Youth Club was founded 13 years ago with one thing in mind, taking kids hunting and fishing.
Chase Kemp founded the youth club in his father’s name in order to give kids the opportunity to experience all that the outdoors had to offer just as his father had done with him. Kemp recruited a few close friends to help his dream become a reality. Over the past 13 years, the youth club has been able to teach youngsters about camping, hunting, shooting, fishing and how to preserve our great outdoors for generations to come. The DRK Youth Club has been fortunate enough to take kids on some 30 hunts and fishing trips annually. They also have meeting and training sessions on a monthly basis.
Dove has partnered with the DRK Youth Club for the past three years putting on a Youth Pro-Bass Camp at Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas. The camp, which is growing every year, is offered to young anglers aspiring to become tournament anglers. The camp provides on-the-water teaching every day as well as classroom seminars. Dove has enlisted help from some of his Bassmaster Elite Series buddies and local professionals to help teach the young anglers some of the tips and tricks they will need to become successful anglers.
“I am so inspired by working with Chase and the youth club for the past several years,” Dove said. “Their commitment to the youth is amazing and I absolutely believe in everything they do.” Dove and his wife, Rhonda, wanted to help the club and they have done it in a big way. Dove pledged $1 for every pound of fish he caught during the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Open tournaments. In December, 294 pounds later, Kurt was writing a check to the club.
“Giving youth the chance to enjoy what the outdoors has to offer is what it’s all about,” said Dove. “This is one way I can help make a difference.”
If you would like to help the DRK Youth Club, please visit the club’s website and click on the “Pledge with Kurt” button. There you can make a pledge with Dove for the 2015 tournament season or simply make a one-time donation. All proceeds will help the DRK Youth Club further its mission of getting our youth outdoors with a purpose.
The Donald R. Kemp Youth Hunt Club is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.