Along the Rum River, veterans, active service members and their children spent the morning at the Anoka Nature Preserve.

"It's a blast, and it's just a pleasure to be out here," said 14-year-old Samuel Nelson.

"Bringing our sons and daughters out here to just enjoy the outdoors and not only that but just the hospitality that we have had from Anoka and all the people that are volunteers here...I like to call them our patriots back home," said veteran Jeffery Nelson.

Sgt. Scott Wahl helped create Waterfowl for Warriors with a mission in mind.

"We started it six years ago and average about 40 to 60 veterans a year getting them out in the field. The goal is to get them out and have them do something they don't have the opportunity to do. We've had World War II veterans. We still have a few that could make it out with us, and those are the guys we really enjoy seeing come out," said Wahl.

The City of Anoka embraced the idea.

"It's just a great experience to be around the veterans and to hear their stories and to be able to thank them personally and feel like you have that ability to give back to what they have given to us as citizens, said Lisa LaCasse, the Public Services Administrator for the City of Anoka.

The youth hunt is a way to help the sons and daughters of veterans become a part of a special bond.

"Get them back out into the woods. You know that's what we did when we were growing up, and it's great to get them back," said Wahl.