01-10-2011, 01:42 AM
Don,
Wow this post is going many directions, but you mentioned one very important item; kids are the future! If any of you have not read Last Child in the Woods, by Norman Louv I would recommend it to any outdoor enthusiast. I agree kids need to be fishing, hiking, climbing, tubing, and snowboarding ect. I teach a field class in the spring and fall at a junior high school where I take 34 teens of 13/14 years old from anywhere from Yellowstone NP (volcanic studies) to the South Fork to do water studies using bioindicators. It amazes me how few places teens have not been in their own backyards, what even surprises me more is they never whine about their experiences with me they indeed love them, and in turn many of them drag their parents out to see the study sites.
Sadly the latest data is supporting this concept of nature deficit disorder. We all know license sales have decreased in the last few years pertaining to younger fishermen. I have talked with Greg Losinski of Idaho Fish & Game on a few occasions, and him and others form across the state have gone out of there way to develop free fishing opportunities for classrooms, scout groups ect, with various concepts like Hooked on Fish; Not Drugs! Bottom line kids need to be fishing, and it is very nice of you to offer your lines to them. If you see a new family out on the ice it is cool to invite them over after or even before you reach a koke limit; if the kids get excited they will probably be back dragging the parents.
Well before you all think I am just a sappy peaceful guy; I will be the first to admit that not every kid belongs on the ice. You always read about my son and I reports; he loves fishing and he will probably fish his entire life. I do, however, have a beautiful brown eyed daughter that has no business on the ice, because she hates it! I have put her in three goose down coats, three pairs of sweats topped with snow pants, two pairs of Smartwool socks, and put her feet in fashionable pink Sorel boots, and she still finds a way to get cold on a 40* afternoon causing a scene on the ice. As a favor to all of you I keep her home with a fine Barbie collection[
] With this all said I think the coolest moments are when that 2-3 year old reals in that first fish and us die hards with kids remember this event just as many important ones.
In conclusion, we need the kids out there and yes it would be nice to see them under control, but let them be kids.
Best,
OvidCreek
[signature]
Wow this post is going many directions, but you mentioned one very important item; kids are the future! If any of you have not read Last Child in the Woods, by Norman Louv I would recommend it to any outdoor enthusiast. I agree kids need to be fishing, hiking, climbing, tubing, and snowboarding ect. I teach a field class in the spring and fall at a junior high school where I take 34 teens of 13/14 years old from anywhere from Yellowstone NP (volcanic studies) to the South Fork to do water studies using bioindicators. It amazes me how few places teens have not been in their own backyards, what even surprises me more is they never whine about their experiences with me they indeed love them, and in turn many of them drag their parents out to see the study sites.
Sadly the latest data is supporting this concept of nature deficit disorder. We all know license sales have decreased in the last few years pertaining to younger fishermen. I have talked with Greg Losinski of Idaho Fish & Game on a few occasions, and him and others form across the state have gone out of there way to develop free fishing opportunities for classrooms, scout groups ect, with various concepts like Hooked on Fish; Not Drugs! Bottom line kids need to be fishing, and it is very nice of you to offer your lines to them. If you see a new family out on the ice it is cool to invite them over after or even before you reach a koke limit; if the kids get excited they will probably be back dragging the parents.
Well before you all think I am just a sappy peaceful guy; I will be the first to admit that not every kid belongs on the ice. You always read about my son and I reports; he loves fishing and he will probably fish his entire life. I do, however, have a beautiful brown eyed daughter that has no business on the ice, because she hates it! I have put her in three goose down coats, three pairs of sweats topped with snow pants, two pairs of Smartwool socks, and put her feet in fashionable pink Sorel boots, and she still finds a way to get cold on a 40* afternoon causing a scene on the ice. As a favor to all of you I keep her home with a fine Barbie collection[
] With this all said I think the coolest moments are when that 2-3 year old reals in that first fish and us die hards with kids remember this event just as many important ones. In conclusion, we need the kids out there and yes it would be nice to see them under control, but let them be kids.
Best,
OvidCreek
[signature]