Flashback Friday: Our Beginnings
Flashback Friday
Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors got it’s start as a program under Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 1999, Kansas Wildlife and Parks authorized the first youth upland season. I was contacted by Randy Wells, his neighbor who knew that I was involved with the local Quail Unlimited chapter. Randy asked me if I could round up some volunteers to take some kids hunting that weekend.
The hunt went well, but we were surprised at how fast the kids tuckered out! We had only walked a couple of fields, but most of them were physically done. The good news was that everyone of the kids wanted to go again!
Fast forward a couple of years and Nick Mork, the executive Director of KS BBBS at the time, asked me if I could help plan a state-wide outdoor mentoring program. I told him, “Nick, I’m an IT guy…I really don’t know anything about putting something like this together, but if you think I can help, I’ll gladly do what I can.” A few months later, I was visiting with Nick at the BBBS office and Nick said, “Mike, how would you like to do this full-time?”
After thinking about it for a few moments, I told Nick I thought I would like that. Nick replied that the first thing I would need to do would be to raise enough money to cover a salary and then I could get started. My introduction to the non-profit world!
Our first call was to Ray Walton who owned Flint Oak at the time. Ray suggested that we reach out to the National Shooting Sports Foundation and their STEP OUTSIDE program. I called and got a meeting scheduled with Jodi Valenta who headed up that program for NSSF.
On a conference call with Jodi, we laid out our plans and Jodi asked what we needed to get started. We hadn’t put pen to paper yet to come up with a budget, but that didn’t slow Nick down. He said we would need $250,000 to get the program started. And Jodi didn’t flinch. She said get me a proposal and we’ll get you the money!
And just like that, we were off and running!
From left to right in the picture is Nick Mork, a much younger looking me, Steve Williams (at this time he was Director of US Fish and Wildlife after serving as Secretary of KDWP and playing an instrumental role in getting this program started) and Jodi Valenta.
Mike Christensen, President Pass It On! Outdoor Mentors
