NWTF Fundraiser (Gel Blaster Battle / Swag Swap / BBQ / Campfire)

MDFI-ALUMNI ONLY EVENT

The weekend of 18/19 May, MDFI is hosting a “Campout and Gel Blaster Battle Royale” Fundraiser at our Northern Woods Training Facility in Chase, Michigan (between Baldwin and Reed City) to help raise funds to improve the property for future classes and students.

Starting at 5PM on Friday May 17^th, NWTF will be open to attendees to shut off the Wi-Fi, get out in the woods to camp, hang out, sell swag, BBQ, and of course, run through the shoot houses with gel blasters…

Cost: Nothing. Families are welcome, (kids +15 can gel blaster battle.) or +1 non family adult guest. RSVP to save your spot. This is a fundraiser for NWTF so donations are welcomed! (they can be collected at the event)

All guests are welcome from Friday evening 5PM to Sunday evening 5PM (more info below on camping). The “main event” will be Saturday 12 noon – evening. Please bring a chair and dress accordingly for the weather (you never know). Bug spray is always a good idea in the woods.

GEL BLASTER BATTLE

On Saturday at noon, the Gel Blasters will come out and anyone who wants to participate in hours of fun battling it out in the MDFI Shoot-neighborhood will have the opportunity to do so in daytime and nighttime battles. Silliness will continue until all of us run out of energy.

If you want to participate in the gel battles, you will need:

• Eye protection
• A gel blaster – NOTE: PLEASE just get a cheap one from Walmart/etc. DO NOT bring a hopped-up expensive one from the interwebs that shoots past 300fps (if you buy a “NERF” or similar one from Walmart you are good to go)
• Gel blaster ammo (if everyone brings a good amount, we just dump them in buckets and will have MORE than enough) They are VERY cheap!
• We will have outlets for charging blaster batteries at NWTF.
• Recommended: There will be style points for making your cheap gel blaster cooler by spray painting/camo’ing it, costumes, and any other shenanigans like mounting real red dot sights to them. Lights “might” be a good idea if you plan to battle at night (or Night Vision) PLEASE do NOT mount laser units to the gel blasters for safety sake.
• Kids +15yr old can participate. (i.e no games will be called on account of crying.)
• When participating in the Gel Battles, all real carry blasters need to be secured in your vehicle!

THE SWAG SWAP

If you want to bring swag to sell:

• Please bring a table or blanket/tarp for the ground if you can.
• You’re welcome to bring an awning / pop-up canopy if you’d like (please make sure you bring a way to stake it down).
• Bring all gear and guns you want to sell and make some $$$.
• Note: THERE IS NO SHOOTING AT THIS EVENT.

Aside from lawfully carried firearms (handguns only please) no firearm you bring to sell will be loaded in any way. ALL FIREARMS BROUGHT TO SELL WILL HAVE A ZIP TIE THROUGH THE ACTION OF THE FIREARM. It’s a small/cheap task for a quick and visual way to make sure we are being as safe as possible. All things* (as allowed by law) are allowed at the swag swap.

Four Rules are to be followed at all times. I know I don’t need to say it but I am nonetheless.

You drink booze, you don’t carry/handle a firearm.

When participating in the Gel Battles, all real carry blasters need to be secured in your vehicle!

CAMPING ON SITE

Everyone is more than welcome to camp on the 10 acre property Friday and Saturday night.

There are bathrooms/showers on site and we will have drinking water available. Tent Camping, Car/Small Pop Camper Use is allowed on the property.

Please plan accordingly and make sure that you can survive without running a generator for a night so not to disturb other folks. (Power for cell phones, etc is available at the facility but there are limited outlets…but hey, you’re in the woods so get out of the Matrix for a day or two!) There is a campfire ring for all to use.

FOR THOSE THAT DON’T LIKE CAMPING:

No worries! There are lots of cool little motels around the area in Baldwin, MI. The nearest “Hotel” is Big Rapids which is about a 30-minute drive. Check out the lodging page on the Northern Woods website. You can find a list of suggestions here.

FOOD / DRINKS

MDFI will provide hotdogs / chips / sodas / water for lunch on Saturday. Other than that, if you are staying all weekend, please plan on bringing food for your stay. Reed City and Baldwin are not too far should you want to grab some grub locally.

At night, BYOB and some stogies to enjoy as we relax and tell stories around the fire.

PETS / ANIMALS

We cannot have any animals aside from canaries or goldfish due to past experiences. We certainly understand this may be a selling / not selling point for some, and for that we can not budge but do so with our apologies.

GUESTS

Alumni can bring your immediate family or one adult non fam guest to the event.  Please note that you are responsible for any family members or non-Alumni guest that attends. By bringing guests, you are vouching for them.

Any questions? Email us and we’ll get you squared away.

BONUS: RAFFLE FOR FUNDRAISER

As part of the fundraiser for NWTF, Trek is putting up a one-of-a-kind package for everyone to try and win to benefit the facility.

Up for grabs is a matching pair of Martinis. An Egyptian Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine chambered in .303 British and a Martini-Greener Police Shotgun chambered in the rare 12/14 Gauge.

Both long guns are functional firearms and were customized by Trek with copper inlay, wood burning, and brass accents. The .303 comes with over 40 rounds of ammunition, the Martini Shotgun comes with a custom made solid brass casing, and both come with matching leather slings and wall mounts for display.

Starting now, you have the chance to win both of these with just $5. For every $5 you add to the pot, you will get a ticket number. Once we get 200 entries, the drawing for the winning ticket number will be on Saturday 18 May at 5PM. The winning number will be selected by the Random Number Generator at Random.org.

You do not need to be present at the drawing to win. The proceeds from this will go to improve Northern Woods for all to enjoy.

If you want to enter, please email Trek for entry instructions.