Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors 2024 Impact Report- A Year In Review
By Brittany French
As we close out another remarkable year, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of our journey. From our dedicated staff and Board of Directors to the volunteers who give their time, energy, and expertise to our generous donors and steadfast partners in the outdoor industry, each of you plays an essential role in making our mission possible. Your support drives our work, enabling us to empower the next generation through outdoor experiences that change lives.
At Pass It On—Outdoor Mentors, we feel deeply responsible for reaching out and serving the next generation. In 2024, we were privileged to coordinate over 800 events across Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin, reaching more than 2,000 youth. Each event represents an opportunity for young people to learn, grow, and build a meaningful skill set, confidence, and appreciation for conservation through outdoor mentorship experiences.
This year’s impact has gone far beyond numbers. Through every hunting, fishing, shooting, and conservation lesson, we have witnessed young people grow in confidence, resilience, and curiosity. They are learning outdoor skills and developing life skills—patience, responsibility, respect—that will serve them in every walk of life. With each event, these young people are building memories and gaining a profound appreciation for wild spaces and an understanding of the importance of preserving them.
We are excited to keep growing and expanding our reach as we look ahead, providing new and continued opportunities to share our hunting heritage and outdoor traditions. We invite each of you to join us in the coming year—whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about our mission. Your partnership and support allow us to continue this vital work.
Thank you for standing with us, believing in the power of mentorship, and helping to make a lasting impact on the lives of countless young people. Together, we will continue to pass on the legacy of the outdoors to the next generation and ensure that these experiences remain accessible and impactful for years to come.
One of the most powerful aspects of our work is hearing directly from the youth we serve in the outdoors. Here is what a few of them had to say about our mission:
“I am very thankful that I can go hunting with a mentor as I would not be able to go otherwise as my dad does not know how and where to go.”
“Without this program, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to hunt, and I never would’ve learned how to hunt different things.”
“My mom and dad do not hunt so it is hard for me to find people to go with or take me hunting. I want to make sure I am learning the right ways to be a strong hunter so when I am old enough to go by myself, I am hunting in the safest and smartest way. Learning from others is important.”
“I would love to learn how to hunt on my own. It is just my mom sister and me in the house. Mom knows nothing about hunting and it is something I've developed an interest in especially as I have gained confidence in my shooting skills during trap.”
We invite you to review our 2024 Impact Report and help us celebrate an incredible year in the outdoors. In this report, you will find a breakdown of the youth we serve, a snapshot of our volunteer mentors, meet our staff and board of directors, a view of our partners and sponsors, and a glimpse of the additional impact we have made.