Whitetails Unlimited Awards Grant to Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors
Contact:
Dr. Scott Petrie
PO Box 48101
Wichita, KS 67201
spetrie@outdoormentors.org
Partnership expands mentored hunting opportunities for youth across America
Wichita, KS, April 7, 2026. Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with Whitetails Unlimited, the nation's premier whitetail deer organization. The grant award will further expand opportunities for young hunters to experience safe, mentored hunts — helping to preserve and grow America's cherished outdoor heritage.
Founded in 2002, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors has grown into a nationally recognized force for outdoor mentorship. The organization's four full-time program coordinators provided more than 800 hunting and fishing opportunities to youth in 2025 and currently operates across eight states, with plans to expand into additional states in 2026.
"We are incredibly grateful for Whitetails Unlimited's continued investment in our mission," said Dr. Scott Petrie, CEO of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors. "Their support is directly enabling us to expand into new states, reach more youth, and build the next generation of hunters and conservationists at a scale that truly matters."
Russ Austad, Program Services Director for Whitetails Unlimited, echoed that enthusiasm. "Securing the next generation of hunters is vital to the preservation of our hunting tradition. Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors is doing exactly that by introducing youth to the outdoors through their mentor program."
About Whitetails Unlimited
Whitetails Unlimited is a national nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the conservation, education, and preservation of the hunting tradition. With more than 475 chapters, 113,000-plus members, dedicated chapter volunteers, and generous corporate sponsors, Whitetails Unlimited has earned its reputation as the nation's premier organization committed to the betterment of the white-tailed deer and its habitat. To date, the organization has expended more than $94 million on program services and activities. Learn more at whitetailsunlimited.com.
About Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors
Founded in 2002, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing mentored hunting and fishing opportunities to youth who would otherwise lack access to the outdoors. Through a structured, safety-focused model, trained volunteer mentors guide young people from diverse backgrounds through hands-on experiences that build confidence, responsibility, and life skills.
Many of the youth served lack access to land, equipment, outdoor knowledge, or a family hunting and fishing tradition. By removing these barriers, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors fosters lifelong connections to wildlife and conservation — while helping recruit the next generation of hunters and anglers, the primary funders of wildlife management in North America.
At a time when youth are increasingly disconnected from nature, the organization's programs help counteract Nature Deficit Disorder by promoting time outdoors, physical activity, and a deeper understanding of where food comes from.
Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors aims to deliver mentored hunting and fishing opportunities in at least 40 states and Canada within the next four years. For more information, visit outdoormentors.org.
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