From Banquet Support to Outdoor Freedom

At our 2026 Banquet, we asked for your help with a simple but powerful goal, giving a young outdoorsman the opportunity to experience the outdoors in ways he hadn’t been able to before.

You answered in a big way.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our banquet attendees and supporters, we raised more than half of the funds needed to provide an Action Trackchair to a 16-year-old from Missouri Valley who has a deep passion for deer hunting, turkey hunting, and showing animals in 4-H, but faces significant mobility challenges.

Just a few weeks after the banquet, we had the honor of presenting the chair to him at his home.

Seeing his reaction and sharing that moment with his family and friends is something we will never forget. More importantly, it was a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.

This chair is more than equipment.

It represents opportunity.
It restores access.
It creates independence.
And it opens the door to experiences that every young person deserves the chance to enjoy.

Because of your support, a young man now has greater freedom to explore the outdoors, participate in the activities he loves, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone who donated, supported this effort, and continues to believe in our mission of GETTING YOUTH OUTDOORS!

Published April 2026

2026 Banquet Celebrates Success and Expands Youth Outdoor Opportunities

Heartland DSC’s 2026 banquet was once again a tremendous success, bringing together supporters from across the region for an evening dedicated to conservation and youth outdoor opportunities.

The event sold out and featured dinner, raffles, and a live auction, all supporting the organization’s mission of connecting young people to the outdoors while advancing conservation efforts. Funds raised during the evening will help support two major initiatives: Access & Youth Outdoors and Conservation & Advocacy.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was the presentation of a Track Chair to a mobility-challenged young man from Nebraska through the organization’s Access Outdoors program. The program provides track chairs that allow youth with mobility challenges to experience outdoor environments that would otherwise be difficult to access.

Guests also enjoyed several interactive activities throughout the evening. Wildlife Encounters gave attendees the opportunity to interact with live animals and learn more about wildlife conservation. Younger guests participated in a casting challenge where they tested their fishing skills.

Between the lively raffle drawings, competitive auction bidding, and the many conversations shared among friends and supporters, the evening was both socially engaging and financially impactful.

The organization is grateful to the many sponsors, donors, volunteers, and attendees whose support made the event possible. Their generosity continues to create meaningful outdoor opportunities for youth while supporting conservation efforts that benefit wildlife and future generations.

Published – March 2026

Getting a Young Outdoorsman Back in the Field

Josh, a young man from Iowa had an unfortunate accident that resulted in paralysis and caused him to be a wheelchair user. Prior to his accident, he was an avid outdoorsman enjoying the many hunting and fishing excursions that he did with his father. He now struggles with using his wheelchair to traverse the terrain to access most of the familiar fishing areas and hunting blinds he had so enjoyed. Josh has the ambition and desire to continue hunting and fishing more than he is able to do today because of access and mobility constraints.

During October of 2025, Heartland DSC with the financial support of Hayden Outdoors surprised Josh with a Freedom Trax, a portable, motorized track system that transforms his manual wheelchair into a rugged off-road wheelchair so that he can continue to pursue his outdoor passions. We wish Josh the best of luck on his outdoor pursuits. Thank you to Hayden Outdoors that helped make it possible to positively impact this young person’s life through the transformative gift of mobility!

Published October 2025

Mobility for a USA Archery Para Archer

Frankie from Florida grew up enjoying the outdoors, participating in baseball, surfing, swimming, running and anything to do with nature. At age 10, everything changed when he received a diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Intermediate B and Centronuclear Myopathy, a progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy. Now age 13, with his mobility severely impacted, he still pursues his outdoor endeavors and focuses on archery with USA Archery, classified at the most severe level (W1) of para archery for competition.

Frankie won Gold at the Florida State Indoor Competition in 2025 and Silver in the 56th USA Archery Indoor Nationals in the W1 (para) Men/Women combined category. USA Archery does not have a youth division, so he competes against adult archers. Frankie’s ultimate dream is to participate in World competitions and one day the Olympics. An obstacle to this dream was the fact that his current wheelchair did not have the ability to navigate through the terrain required to participate in outdoor 3D shoots, which are a must in the world of competitive archery. He also would not be able to fulfill his dream of bow hunting without the access provided by a motorized off-road wheelchair track system.

Heartland DSC has provided Frankie with a Freedom Trax, a portable, motorized track system that transforms his manual wheelchair into a rugged off-road wheelchair so that he can continue to pursue his archery dreams and get him back outdoors as part of his everyday life.

Published October 2025

2025 Heartland DSC Banquet Sets New Records

The 2025 Heartland DSC Banquet & Auction set new records both in attendance and funds raised to support our mission of Getting Youth Outdoors. Once again, the evening was highlighted by gifting an all-terrain mobility chair to a youth to provide him with mobility and access to the outdoors. New in 2025, youth were awarded “First” Awards in recognition of their first catch or first harvest that took place during the preceding year. The inaugural Rick Gibson Award was awarded to Shirley Hill-Marshall for her untiring support of our mission, and our Guardians were presented plaques in recognition of their support. The fun-filled evening included raffles, games, and auctions along with a roving magician, kids casting contest, and the always popular Wildlife Encounters exhibit for family members. It is with great appreciation that we recognize the attendees, sponsors, and donors that make it possible for us to continue our efforts in regards to Access Outdoors, Conservation, Education, and Advocacy!

Watch your emails and our website for information on our upcoming 2026 Heartland DSC Banquet & Auction.

Published – February 2024

2024 Dream Hunt Results in Success

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2024 Hunter Education Course

Heartland DSC will be conducting a Hunter Education Certification Course on August 10-11, 2024 at the Papillion Gun Club.  This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to meet all requirements for certification in a single weekend. Certification meets the hunter education certification requirements throughout the United States and is valid for all states.

In addition to required hunter education instruction, students successfully completing the course will be provided the opportunity to participate in live fire at their option. Heartland DSC will be providing lunch for attendees both days and targets and shells for those participating in the live fire.

For more information or to register CLICK HERE.

Published July 2024