Summer Camps Encourage Ohio Youth to Get Off the Couch
Mary Kuhlman, Managing Editor
Friday, May 29, 2009
Columbus, OH – School will soon be out for summer, leaving most Ohio children looking for something to occupy their time. Instead of allowing them to spend their days on the couch, the Ohio Wildlife Federation is urging parents to encourage their kids to get out and explore the great outdoors.
Executive director Larry Mitchell admits it’s not an easy task.
"Between video games, Facebook, Myspace and 600 cable channels – there are a lot of things that keep kids engaged inside and pretty sedentary."
Outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and hiking are foreign to many young people, but Mitchell says those activities can teach important life skills.
"Our goal is to teach them a skill, like how to fish, or how to understand what wildlife is around them, and how the conservation of that wildlife is good for all Ohioans."
Many children don’t understand that sportsmen, anglers and boaters generate the money that helps protect the state's wildlife, he adds.
"Our goal is to get them out and teach them those skills that an entire generation lost – maybe pick up a few of their parents in the meantime - and get them reinvigorated with the knowledge they can make a difference."
The Ohio Wildlife Federation is offering a variety of programs this summer that teach children the joys of fishing and competitive shooting, as well as the responsibilities of conservation, wildlife management and water safety. The first of those programs, The Junior Anglers of Ohio, gets underway today at Camp Muskingum. More information is available at www.ohwf.org/youth.html.
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