Use Your Passion for the Outdoors to Mentor the Next Generation
By Katie Ellis
You enjoy hunting, that much is obvious. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. You’ve been doing it for years, and it always brings you joy. There is nothing like the feeling of being out in nature. Watching all the wildlife, practically invisible. You get to watch deer do deer things.
Then when that one finally walks up that you’ve been waiting for, the rush and the excitement kick in and it’s on. Waiting for that perfect opportunity to get your shot. And then… BOOM! Deer down! It’s one of the craziest feelings to harvest a deer. You go through many emotions in the process, and in the end, you are proud of yourself for pulling it off.
Now, think what it would be like to share that experience with someone new. Someone who has never experienced anything like that before. It can be just as exciting, if not more, to give someone else the experience of shooting their first deer. Or turkey, or pheasant, or duck.
If this speaks to you, consider becoming an outdoor mentor!
Did you know that less than 5% of youth aged 16 and older hunt? That’s half of what it was 50 years ago. Many of the baby boomer generation are phasing out of hunting. But they’re not being replaced by the younger generations.
We are Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, and our goal is to get more youth outdoors. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to give kids the opportunities to experience the great outdoors. To do this, we empower young people through outdoors experiences & mentorship.
That’s why today we’re going to talk about what it takes to be an outdoor mentor, a few stories from our youth and mentor participants, and how you can become one.
What Does It Take To Be an Outdoor Mentor?
You’re probably thinking, “Okay, this sounds great, but don’t I have to be an expert to be a mentor?”
And the answer to this is a big, fat NO.
All we are looking for in a volunteer mentor is someone who has a passion for the outdoors, and wants to take kids out afield to show them the wonders of hunting, fishing and shooting. It’s as simple as that. You don’t have to be perfect, you just need to give some time. That’s all these kids need - someone who wants to spend time with them and teach them something new.
The Pass it On - Outdoor Mentors program takes care of all the planning for the activities, so all you have to worry about is giving your time and attention.
Just think of how it will feel to take a kid out for their first time hunting. You get to see them harvest their first animal and experience the joy they feel. But it’s not always about harvesting the animal, either.
People think you have to plan and execute a perfectly successful hunt. But all it takes to be successful is to invite someone out with you. You’ll still get to enjoy watching someone else experience something for the very first time. And that is very special.
One of those special experiences was shared between George and Bruce, a youth and mentor in our program.
George & Bruce - The Hamburger Helper Story
Bruce was driving through Chattanooga, TN when he heard a man on the radio talking about the Pass It On program. He immediately felt called to it and sent an email to become an outdoor mentor.
Bruce was paired up with George, who was a young boy living in a single-parent home with his siblings. He wasn’t doing very well in school and was generally disinterested in things. But as Bruce and George spent more time together hunting and fishing, things began to change.
George was improving in school, so much so that even the principal noticed. He told George’s mom that the “old George” was gone and the “new George” was unrecognizable.
George and Bruce continued spending time together outdoors. During one deer season, they were after a nice 9-pointer that was known on the property where they hunted. After a long season, George finally got the chance on him. He was so excited, he couldn’t steady himself. But Bruce was there to help. He calmed George down and got him steady. Then… Big buck down!
After the excitement wore off a little, it was time to have the deer processed. But George’s mom didn’t have the money to pay for it. So, Bruce stepped up and took it upon himself to process the deer; with George there to help in any way he could.
They ended up with over 200 lbs of steaks and burger. While grinding the burger, George turned to Bruce and asked if it would be good in Hamburger Helper. He said they’d been eating that a lot over the last few months, but haven’t had any meat to put in it.
George and Bruce’s story goes to show how impactful these experiences can be for children. And George’s experience not only helped him, but helped to provide meat for his family when they truly needed it.
George and Bruce’s relationship is from the early days of the Pass it On - Outdoor Mentors program. Next we’ll talk about how the program has grown and changed over the years.
How Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors Came to Be
The Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors program has been providing experiences like George and Bruce’s for many years. Our program began years ago as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) in Kansas. Mike Christensen was hired as the Director of Outdoor Mentoring in 2002. In this position he helped to recruit more men to become mentors for BBBS.
The easiest way to do that? Find men who are passionate about the outdoors and connect them with kids who may have the same interest. Mike did just that, and began pairing these men with young boys that typically came from disadvantaged homes and/or disadvantaged economic environments.
Bruce and George’s story is a prime example of the work Mike did at BBBS. And in 2006, Mike decided to branch out on his own and create what we have today. The Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors program began just in Kansas, but has since spread to Iowa and Wisconsin as well.
One of our focuses now is to bridge the gap between shooting sports and other outdoor recreation. We work with high school and college trap teams to connect kids with mentors and expand their outdoor experience. But any youth who is 11 years of age with completed hunter education is welcomed to hunt, fish, and shoot in the program.
Up next, we’ll talk about Raegan’s experience. Her story is proof of the work we are doing today.
From Trap Shooting to Deer Hunting: Raegan’s First Buck
Raegan is on her high school’s trap team. Her family is all into hunting, so she has some background knowledge of it, but she has never gone herself. She has a lot of experience shooting, so now she wants to dip her toes into hunting.
Raegan was paired up with Brittany, who is the current CEO of Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, and they set out to get Raegan her first deer.
Raegan and Brittany sat out on 3 hunts, and on their last hunt Raegan finally spotted a buck. It took some time for Raegan to get an opportunity to shoot him, but it finally happened and she made a great shot. Both relieved and excited, they celebrated Raegan’s first deer!
Experiences like these are exactly what we need people like you for. You’ll get to spend time with kids and get to know them. Then when these exciting moments happen, you can share them together. You get to see these experiences through their eyes and know that you helped to make it happen.
Another experience Brittany got to make happen was a deer hunt for Cantanilla. Keep reading for a truly touching moment between youth and mentor.
Women are Outdoor Mentors Too!
Brittany had the opportunity to take Cantanilla out for her first deer hunt, and boy, was it exciting!
This hunt was much shorter than Raegan’s. They set out to their blind and shortly after they settled in, it started raining. This didn’t discourage them, though. They waited and after about only 30 minutes, the rain stopped.
Immediately the deer activity started. It wasn’t long before Brittany started saying “Big buck, big buck, big buck!!” Cantanilla got her gun up, and waited for him to turn broad-side. Once he did, she got off a great shot.
They were both so excited because it happened so fast. It was a very exciting and emotional moment for both of them. Brittany even stated she “had to dial back the tears because it was just a beautiful moment to be alongside her.”
Brittany’s experiences as a mentor show how impactful it can be, not only for the kids, but for the adults as well. She’s also proof of the importance of having women to mentor young girls.
It’s known that hunting is a male-dominated sport. But we want to help change this by getting young girls and women alike to take part in hunting activities. One of our core values is diversity. Incorporating more women and girls into the program is one of the ways we are practicing this. And it’s one of the reasons Brittany became a mentor. She saw the need for women mentors and wanted to help.
How You Can Become an Outdoor Mentor
You can have experiences just like Brittany and Bruce by becoming an outdoor mentor. It doesn’t take an expert to be a mentor to these kids. All you need is a passion for the outdoors and to give a little of your time.
Wondering how to become an outdoor mentor? It’s easy!
Fill out our mentor application.
Complete a background check.
Once cleared, you’ll be contacted by a Program Coordinator in your state to discuss what outdoor events you would like to be part of.
If you want to make a difference in these children’s lives, visit our website here to apply to be an outdoor mentor.
