No one who is even remotely interested in reading this blog would disagree that taking a youngster fishing is a good thing. I’m positive of that. But I go a bit further.
I think that we also need to expose our kids to the possibilities, opportunities and joy fishing can bring, that are beyond those trips to the pond, lake or river. In other words, show them how this wonderful pastime can fit into other aspects of their lives. And if we don’t, we’re doing these young folks a disservice.
Along those lines, I want to pass along a couple of simple suggestions I know will help a kid “keep fishing close,” even when they don’t have a rod in their hand.
The first is the “
Fish On Kids” book series, by author K.J. Houtman. The stories center on 11-year-old Gus Roberts, his parents Annie and Jim, older brother Jake, Grandpa Pops, and a whole cast of characters, including Gus’ archenemy—Matt Driver.
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| The "Fish On Kids" series is a great family read. |
Each book is filled with adventures, great and small, and are wrapped around the family’s love of camping, hiking, wildlife watching and fishing—especially fishing! There’s A LOT of fishing in these books.
In fact, the stories teach a lot about fishing, too. And about nature and the outdoors in general. Did you know that a group of woodpeckers is called a “descent?” I didn’t until I cracked the first book. They also teach many age-appropriate life lessons—like how to deal with a bully.
I’ve read the first three installments, “
A Whirlwind Opener,” “
Driving Me Crazy,” and “
Spare The Rod,” and am eager to move on to the latest edition, “
Duck, Duck, Deuce.”
My two sons are in their 20s, but if Houtman had written these books 15 years ago, they’d have been on our bedtime reading list. As it is, I know that my 10-year-old fishing-nut nephew Ezra is getting Book One for Christmas. Do me a favor, though, and keep that between us for the next week.
Wildlife Forever’s
State-Fish Art Contest is another opportunity for youngsters to enjoy fishing—without actually fishing. Wildlife Forever is the NAFC’s non-profit conservation affiliate, which over the years, has donated millions to help fund local conservation projects and land acquisitions.
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| 2011 Illinois State-Fish Art Contest Winner (Grades 7-9), Justas Varpucanski |
And the State-Fish Art Contest is a wonderful program that helps connect kids with
fisheries conservation. Each year hundreds of children and young adults submit their drawings and paintings of the state fish of their choice. Winners are honored at the annual State-Fish Art Expo, which has been held at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, and next year is scheduled to be held at the Central Arkansas Nature Center in Little Rock.
Twice I’ve been honored with an invitation to be part of the contest’s judging panel. Naturally, the work by kids with an artistic flair rises to the top during the judging process, but to me that’s a secondary point. Having reviewed hundreds of works, what continues to amaze me is the intense interest the children have in the subject matter, no matter their artistic skill level.
I encourage you to introduce the young anglers in your life to Houtman’s books, or the State-Fish Art Contest. You, and they, will be glad you did.
-- Kurt