WORKING WITH NEWCOMERS TO THE OUTDOORS

(starting out a fisherman)

(Working With Newcomers to the Outdoors by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in May 2010)

   Outdoor Sportsmen go through stages in their outdoor experience. Although those stages may have varying extrinsic or intrinsic values and may vary as to the time frame or period the sportsman goes through that stage, the bottom line is that we all change over time in our outdoor pursuits.
   You can name those stages with any title you wish to use but generally they look something like this. First, there is the stage where you just start out and can’t wait to spend as much time as possible doing whatever your passion dictates. You will fish for anything, no matter the size or the conditions. Second, there is the learning stage where you spend much time trying to learn through experience, books, video or other media as much as you possibly can about your sport. Third, comes the stage where you try to give back something to the sport you enjoy. This is usually done by teaching others, writing about it or just plain sharing your experiences with others interested in the same. The final stage is one where we continue to refine and perfect our techniques as much as we possibly can. This is also the stage where your endeavors often become a bit more costly in equipment and travel.
   These stages may not be all that cut and dried as you might first think. The first stage is where you, yourself are usually mentored by someone else. Doesn’t matter if we are talking backpacking, fishing, hunting or canoeing. Someone probably took you under their wing and formally or informally taught you the finer points of enjoying that sport. Here the learning curve is quite pronounced. You haven’t much time but to go out and enjoy the pursuit of your sport.
   There comes a time however, when you begin to learn more and want to give more to your sport. This is where the other three stages can somewhat blur together but at the same time bring you much satisfaction. Learning more about your sport can be greatly entertaining whether you like to sit and read or not. Many times a number of my hunting and fishing buddies and I will plan to attend an outdoor function together in order to see new developments in the sports or just to talk with other sportsmen. Sportsmen shows, gun shows, seminars and visiting special nature exhibits or sites can all add to your education. At the same time if you are taking some neophyte along, you are helping to educate them and thus giving back to the sport by encouraging a new comer. So these two stages blend together.
   Often times, if you do attend one of those venues, you will hear experienced old-timers in the sports standing around discussing trends and methods from their own experiences. Even though they may now be in that fourth stage of their sport, they are also helping along others through their historical perspective or by confirming the methods and techniques that work in the field.
   During the past year I have been able to help young people with such things as choice of hiking equipment for trips from day hikes to extended stays in the backcountry. Taking hikes to experience the outdoors in whole new surroundings than what they were familiar. We have also had opportunity to get out ice fishing and learn some of the techniques of that sport, which are quite different from the open water fishing of summer. We also did some open water fishing. In both the ice fishing and open water fishing we were able to check out an abundance of tackle and equipment that might be used.
   This past week I took a small group of kids out fishing for perch. Nothing big but at the same time something I knew that they would be successful at doing. This is one of the keys for successful introduction of someone new to the sport. Try to make it a successful and enjoyable outing. They will then look forward to the next outing.
   As you head afield and astream this year consider taking someone new along and introduce them to the sport you love so much. It pays in the end.