Montana Woods N Water June 2016 Print Edition | Page 8

THE NEXT GENERATION

Sharing Your Passion For The Outdoors—By Nathan Albertson
What drives a hunter to sit in a tree stand for hours on end, when the wind is blowing and the temperatures are below freezing? Why would
an angler sit in a canoe, in the middle of a lake and broil in the sun, when there has not been a bite on the line for hours? What possesses a
trapper to brave ice and snow to wade creeks in the dead of winter? Ultimately, it comes down to one factor, a passion for the outdoors.
In recent years, numerous states have revised hunting, trapping, and angling regulations, making it easier for youngsters to get involved in the
outdoors. Montana is no exception. In 2015, the Montana State Legislature passed a new law and Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission
approved new rules, which allow youth, ages 10 to 17, to purchase an Apprentice Certification. The Apprentice Certification allows young
hunters to purchase some Montana hunting licenses prior to completing a hunter education course, provided an adult mentor accompanies
them.
While clothing companies and retailers have gotten on board and now cater to the various clothing needs for children to hunt and fish, other
portions of the outdoor industries are trying to get youth involved as well. These steps are a necessary part of the equation; however, one
subject seems to go unaddressed. What are the basic principles and steps that parents and mentors can follow to help successfully introduce
children to the outdoor sports and traditions?
Perhaps you have read that if we train up a child in the way they should go, when they grow old they shall not depart from it. This is as true
today as when it was written. There are many distractions in the world today for young people and personal time with our children becomes
a rare commodity. One of the most meaningful ways we have at our disposal for connecting with future generations is to share our passion
with the youngsters in our life. As such, we can use these opportunities to pass on ethical and moral values, which will aid them in the future.
In addition, early in their lives we can begin an education, which is available and visible in the world around us and help them to understand
the beauty and amazement in the world God created for us!
Over the last 20 plus years, I have had the privilege of introducing a sibling and spouse to hunting and angling. I have also taken friends and
family members who were either new to hunting, or new to hunting a different game species, and helped them to learn how to do so. Now,
with children of my own, I recognize the mistakes I have made in the past with introducing youngsters to hunting, and I have started using
several guiding principles and ideas, which have, to date, provided positive results.
Patience and Goals
Patience may be the most challenging principle for many adults
when working with children; it often has been for me. These
challenges must be remembered when setting goals for the day and
we must have reasonable expectations of our children based upon
their ages and abilities. Children, depending on their age, walk
slower, cannot walk as far, need help getting dressed in warm and
appropriate attire, have a difficult time with noise discipline, and in
general have a very short attention span. It is very important to plan
for these delays in the schedule and count on them occurring.
Fishing for me is a lighthearted sport. Trapping is a little more
serious, but I find more opportunities to involve the children.
However, hunting I
take very serious
and I must
constantly remind
myself when I take
the children; it is
their hunt and
their opportunity.
This becomes the
guiding principle
and as such, we
progress at their
pace.

Flowing creeks possess a curiosity for children of all ages
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