Kayaking with the Minnows

Jacques Cousteau once noted

“People will protect what they love.  Yet we love only what we know.”

It seems to me more important than ever to teach our children to know our natural world when we live in a time that through technology and the sheer impact of our numbers irreversible environmental acts can occur in a single generation.  To know is to love and to love is to protect.

 

Getting our children involved in the outdoors can often be a daunting task especially when it means competing with television and video games and the hectic schedules we all keep.  The rewards of outdoor adventure with our kids can far outweigh any struggle to get there.  Besides fostering a passion for the outdoors, active families form stronger bonds and the children learn valuable skills and gather great confidence and experiences.

For seasoned paddlers and anglers, planning an adventure is simple.  Equipped with the proper safety equipment, lots of snacks and drinks, take your time and make sure the day is about the kids with plenty of fishing, exploring and sometimes simply daydreaming while looking at the sky.  Patience and planning are the keys to great adventure.

Join a club to find others with similar interests.  Our club has plenty of families that paddle and fish together.  If you need some help look to joining such a club with members involving their kids to see how they do it.

For those with little or no experience or needing some help, there are numerous other organizations and events that can help out.  Hook kids on fishing is a great conservation minded nonprofit that provides venues for children to learn all about fishing from safety and ecology to rigging the tackle and handling a fish.  Best of all their events are free with all the tackle and instruction included.  You can check out the schedule online to find an event near you at www.anglersforconservation.org

Another great way to get the little ones out is to get them involved in one of the many free and family friendly fishing derbies.  Our local shad and crappie derby is built to order for family fishing, offering many highly organized outings, events and seminars.  There are lots of folks involved that are happy to lend a hand or answer questions.  More info can be found on the web at www.cfshadderby.com

Frederick D. Rambo III,

President OKFC