Take a Young Person Hunting, Fishing, or Hiking
Introduce Youth to the Outdoors
Taking a young person on an outdoor experience is a way of paying forward the value of countless hours pleasurably spent hunting, fishing, or enjoying nature. Children are more likely to discover the attractions of outdoor sporting activities when they are encouraged and supported by adults.
The Last Child in the Woods
Richard Louv, in his bestselling book, The Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2008), writes, “A widening circle of researchers believes that loss of natural habitat, or the disconnection from nature even when it is available, has enormous implications for human health and child development. They say the quality of exposure to nature affects our health at an almost cellular level.” One of the best things adults can do for children is to teach them how to enjoy the outdoors.
Take Teens Hunting
Teenagers who are physically mature enough to carry hunting equipment and mentally mature enough to listen carefully to direction and handle firearms safely are ready to learn to hunt. Although many hunters learned their skill from a parent or grandparent, young people today may not have family members who know how to hunt. Handing down cherished skills to young enthusiasts can provide great satisfaction to hunters who participate in youth education programs.
Teach Kids to Fish
Fishing for bluegill with live bait and a simple rod and reel combination provides youngsters with quick gratification. Even the youngest angler can achieve success when panfish are biting. In Gone Fishin’, Ruminations on Fly Fishing, (The Lyons Press, 2004), William G. Tapply declares, “Dad and I went off fishing just about every weekend from April through September. That was my childhood. I was a lucky kid, and lucky me, I knew it.”
Nature Provides Plenty of Subject for Photography
Hunting and fishing are far from the only outdoor activities in which young people may participate. Children may enjoy learning to photograph plants, birds, and other animals. A trip to a park or nature preserve can provide a wide variety of birds to photograph. Hiking the nature trails in parks increases youngsters’ awareness of the variety of plant life. They may even discover interests that lead them to research the flora and fauna of the areas where they hike and photograph, learning to categorize, compare, and contrast the different species they encounter.
Hiking Builds Endurance and Physical Fitness in Children
With childhood obesity on the rise, active pursuits such as hiking are a fun way for young people to increase fitness. Adults can start out by taking children on short hikes with definite destinations in mind. This keeps young hikers focused on the goal and provides a sense of satisfaction when the destination is reached. As endurance increases, the length and difficulty of hikes can be increased as well. Geocaching is a fun activity that adds the element of treasure seeking to the enjoyment of being out in natural surroundings.
Love of Outdoors Can Last a Lifetime
When young people are introduced to hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoors activities early in life, they may find that these activities remain a vital part of the way they live as adults. Improved physical condition, reduced stress, and a deeper understanding of nature will be the result. Introducing a young person to the outdoors is one of the best investments an adult can make in a youngster’s life.
Dad and Son Fishing
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