Hooking youth: Fishing is a pathway to nature for America's children

Hooking youth: Fishing is a pathway to nature for America's children

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jun/06/commentary-hooking-youth/
http://tinyurl.com/2pcycu

Mamie Parker
Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Waters, long-coursed downstream, press on me still.

The lunges of memorable fish linger in the eddies of my mind. Bright
waters beckon this private vice of mine, fishing.

And my recollections, no matter how old, always have the tenor of
springtime, when all things are new.

Fishing fixes me to places where I really feel alive. As a young girl
and even today the experience carries a vestige of adventure and
wildness - an escape from the artifices of man.

As I reflect on National Fishing and Boating Week, which is this week,
it pains me some children don't experience nature as I have.

A recent book by Richard Louv, called "Last Child in the Woods: Saving
Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder," has brought into the
national dialogue the condition of today's children and in particular
their poverty of outdoors experiences.

Electric cords tether them to the indoors while diabetes and obesity
have soared, Louv reports. Increasingly they suffer from ADHD; they're
shuttled to and from pre-planned events, with little chance for
spontaneous and creative play.

Think about this: you don't see many children playing outside anymore.
It's a simple observation, but telling. The dearth of youthful
experience in nature makes us all the poorer.

Recent scientific research at Cornell University reports what I
instinctively know. The Cornell study of 2,000 adults by professors
Nancy Wells and Kristi Lekies revealed in the journal, Children, Youth
and Environments, that kids who fish and have unstructured time
outdoors grow into adults who care more about conservation and the
environment.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service intends to enrich lives with
introductions to nature. During this week of observing fishing and
boating, most of our 70 National Fish Hatcheries across the nation
invite thousands of children and adults to fishing derbies at
hatcheries or on waters supported by fish from our hatcheries.

But we're going to do one better.

Congress gave the service a charge in the National Fish Hatchery
Volunteer Act of 2006, requiring us to create educational guidelines
and make use of our hatcheries and fisheries field stations across the
nation as outdoor classrooms.

In October, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Kentucky launches the
first environmental education curricula with training sessions for
staff, volunteers and teachers from local schools public and private.

Curricula standards will follow national guidelines and relate to
those of the local schools, providing the chance for students to
increase their science literacy and their awareness of nature with
personal hands-on experience with fish and their habitats.

It's my ardent hope we touch the lives of youth by planting a germ of
an idea that nature matters, that conservation matters.

Our work with the state fish and game agencies and conservation groups
matters - not just for conservation, but for people.

In July, the copper-colored Gila trout in the southwest New Mexico
will be open to fishing for the first time since the 1950s. Witness
also our work restoring lake trout in the Great Lakes, at the same
time monitoring a novel but serious fish disease called viral
hemorrhagic septicemia.

Developments we've made in fish nutrition help steelhead on the West
Coast and Atlantic salmon in the northeast. It falls upon our
scientists to marshal the rigorous research necessary to have the Food
and Drug Administration approve new aquatic animal drugs for the good
of conservation, commerce and people.

Fishing surely has its values, intrinsic and otherwise. The sport has
produced an enduring body of literature. This favorite of American
pastimes supports commerce and creates livelihoods for people; the
welfare of people and families depend on quality fishing. And for
youth, fishing is an entr, toward feeding their innate curiosity about
nature.

This is circuitous, like a lazy oxbow river turns back toward itself:
healthy habitats mean healthy fish, healthy economies and healthy
people.

We need young people in the circle; we need them outdoors where nature
will nurture them as they grow - and they'll grow to nurture nature.

Fishing is surely a way there.

--
Parker is the assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
in Washington, D.C. She is an avid angler and member of the Arkansas
Outdoor Hall of Fame.

How true your writeup is for our Youth. And, having a nice affordable
fully equipped RV for those fishing trips will enhance the experience of
fishing even more ! :

For Sale :
1998 'CoachHouse' Brand (upper end) Class B. Motorhome / Van Camper as
follows....
______________________________
19' long, fully equipped RV , meticulously cared for inside and out ,
with many upgrades and optional factory equipment : White exterior with
fancy attractive blue factory decals with highlights and pinstripping
Fiberglass roof was recently painted with pure white high-reflective
elastomeric paint .
Dodge 3500 chassis, 5.9 litre engine, overdrive automatic transmission,
posi-traction rearend , 21 k. true miles on odometer, upgraded stero
am/fm / cd / tape player , 4 captains chairs that swivel to make into 2
beds and to seat 4 people at a removable floor mounted table (included)
, ps/pb/pw/pl's , cruise control, switch to start engine from the coach
battery if required, upgraded aux. electric radiator fan in addition to
belt driven engine fan / upgraded aux. trans. cooler with fan in case
heavy towing is desired -- I never towed with it. Synthetic fluids
thruout .
Brand new Michelin tires, brand new H.D. set of shocks, rear air bags
for leveling , upgraded aluminum wheels.
Coach details :
Identical layout to a Roadtrek 190 Versatile model . Has TV, DVD player,
VHS player, cable ready , Batwing antennae with booster control, all
cabinets and interior doors are made of real oak wood, plush blue
carpetting, 4 burner propane stove, brand new larger 4.3 cu.ft. Haier
115 v. refrigerator with 800 w. Inverter , microwave, sink, custom cut
rear double bed matress 50w.x72L."x8"h. , push in the floor table for
the swivel captains chairs, marine toilet, shower with handheld wand and
plastic curtain that pulls out (has a section of the floor that easily
removes in the isle to reveal the floor basin), spacious clothes closet,
many cupboards, roof mounted 11,000 btu A/C with spare brand new exact
replacement compressor, blinds on all windows, dark tinted windows
thruout except windshield, fantastic roof fan with thermostat, built in
115 v. coffee maker, * propane /electric water heater, propane
furnace, 2.8 Onan Generator with just a few hours of runtime on it
(regularly excersised each month), 2 deep cell AGM Trojan J150 Batteries
for 300 amp/hours of capacity total, coach 12 v. master shutoff switch,
115
v. surge protector for the master electric panel, 12' awning hardly
used, upgraded backup lights in addition to the van backup lights,
propane connection at rear of Coach for bar-b-quing behind the van,
trailer hitch, * fresh/grey/black water tanks, control panel inside
with tank level readouts and remote generator starting. Added fiberglass
insulation to the inside of the walls of the Coach whereever possible
Outside and inside is like new . Everything works well, no
disappointments, perfect for weekend fishermen/hunters or as a second
vehicle. Gets 15 mpg at 60 mph , very comfortable to drive on long
trips, and is very stable on the road.
Have complete folder of Manuals and all reciepts for mechanical service
and upgrades. Have original Van sticker listing the specs and options
from the manufacturer.
NADA 'average condition' price : $25,600 Asking price : $23,000 (firm)
for a quick sale.
Again, no disappointments.
Selling the RV to acquire a larger Class C. Motorhome to live in for
semi retirement .
RV is located in Lake Villa, Illinois (50 miles north of Chicago). Can
furnish a set of pictures upon request for very serious buyers. Dont
have means on the internet, but, can send via the U.S. mail. David .