The Pursuit of Happiness

Want to Create Lasting Memories with Your Kids? Get Outdoors and Teach Them About Nature.

by T. “Charlie” Allen

When I was about eighteen, my parents bought me a beautiful little lever-action rifle for Christmas. I guess my dad was able to convince my mom because he also owned a rifle at that age and often used it to go squirrel hunting. My choice of game was slightly more ambitious. I wanted to hunt hogs…

My dad was all in when I said I wanted to go camping and hunting with him. He hadn’t been hunting in many years. So, we packed up the car and took off for a weekend, just the two of us. Although we didn’t have any hunting success that weekend, more than fifty years later, it ranks in the top three memories I have of my father.

There’s something deeply special about spending time in the outdoors with people you love. My dad passed away years ago, but I still remember that weekend with him vividly.

When my oldest son expressed an interest in hunting, I was overjoyed. I’d started my son shooting when he was just five or six years-old, so I wasn’t surprised when he asked about hunting. We were fortunate that I had a friend with some property close to our home, where we could hunt whitetail deer. That weekend, my son bagged a beautiful little four-point buck that I had mounted for him. Like the weekend I had with my dad, it was truly memorable. And I hope he also remembers it fondly long after I’m gone. 

Whether you have a son or daughter, spending time with them in the outdoors is a great way to bond and share experiences that can last forever. Most State and National Parks have an abundance of wildlife and plenty of things to do -- and not all of those things have to cost a fortune, either. You just need to stop and take the time to look into it.

Not a hunter? No problem, there are nature centers all over the country. Don’t have the patience for fishing? Go hiking, instead. If you’re unable to get away for the weekend, even just going out in the backyard for a few hours can provide a chance to talk and observe things together with your kids. Ask them to identify as many animals and insects as they can, and then talk about each one. Maybe talk about how the weather affects animals and insects. Take them fishing. Talk about the fish you catch -- and if you don’t catch anything, talk about the bait!

Most kids are so glued to the Internet and social media these days that they’ve lost the connection with nature, which lies at the heart of what it is that makes us human. But you can combine their desire to be online together with the outdoors by spending time outside observing animals and insects. Then, when you go back inside or get back home, look up information online about the animals and insects you saw outdoors.

Kids also love the sound of explosions. Shooting and hunting are great sources of excitement for them. Exposing a child to these things has to be done appropriately and with care, of course. Explaining the consequences of misuse and the rules for handling dangerous things like guns and knives is the first step in the process.

As I said, my son started shooting when he was very young. I showed him my guns and let him handle them (making sure of course that they were safe and unloaded). By doing so, I took the risks associated with curiosity out of the equation. He asked questions, and I answered them.

We played a game where I would make a big drama about searching the room, table or area we were in for any ammo before we ever took the guns out. After a couple times doing this, he would help look under the chairs, the table, and anywhere there could possibly be ammo.

He knew ammo was never allowed in the vicinity of the guns when handling them. It was a game, but it worked. By confronting his curiosity head-on, he was less likely to sneak in on his own to handle them. I made it clear he could handle my guns anytime I was with him, and I kept that promise. When we went shooting, I made sure he knew the rules, and how important those rules were. To this day, he won’t handle a gun that he hasn’t personally cleared.

It’s not hard to help your kids develop an appreciation for the outdoors, or for hunting, fishing, or shooting. But it does take some time and effort on your part. I took a Hunter Safety course together with my kids (which is mandatory for hunting licenses in most states). It was a great bonding experience. A quick Google search for youth outdoors programs can jump-start your effort. Most of these organizations go to great lengths to screen their volunteers and employees, requiring background check on anyone who teaches or participates in youth-oriented activities.

Getting a child interested in something while they’re young is key to keeping them out of trouble as they get older. If they’re busy and focused on something they love, they’re far less likely to fall into bad habits. But don’t let money prevent you from doing something worthwhile with your kids. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, and the benefits are life-changing…as are the memories that will last a lifetime.

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