Teaching Our Youth

Teaching my sons and daughter about the wonderful outdoors has been a wonderful experience for all of us. Over the years we have spent numerous hours learning about wildlife through books, walks through the woods with one another during all seasons of the year, learning different calls each animal makes and how we can replicate them, working on blinds together, putting up stands, shooting BB guns, shooting bow, learning about the importance of the food chain, and even sharing a hunt or two together along the way. But, what does this all mean and what purpose does it ultimately serve?

Bringing a youth into the outdoors and giving them the opportunity to hunt serves many purposes, both immediate and into the future for our children. To easily sum up everything that our youth gain from such experiences simply cannot be done, but here’s a number of recognizable points that I have seen that the whole outdoor experience brings with it:
• It teaches them to respect the delicate balance of nature and understand how we, as humans, can not only coexist with nature, but can help it thrive.
• It teaches them man very basic skills and behavioral traits that are often overlooked in today’s society for whatever reason. Some of these include respect, patience, work ethic, dedication, humility, self-discipline, and that there simply is no substitute for hard work.
• An understanding that everything in life is not simply at the snap of a finger and that many times more than naught the best things take time to develop.
• Stewardship.
• Gives them an opportunity to “wind down” from the fast-paced world many of us so frequently get caught up in and spend more valued time with people who share the same passion.
• It teaches them to respect and the safety with firearms and bows, and likewise provides them with the opportunity to learn how to use them as a lifelong skill.
• It provides an understanding and ability to survive off the land.

The bottom line is that it is vital that we continue to educate our youth as this is our future. Take time to teach as it is possibly the most rewarding time you will spend in the outdoors yourself.

–Good Huntin’!