In my head there is a scene I cherish; my (then) two year old standing away from me, next to what was an almost out of place feature there; a wide, deep pool in what is a typically narrow brook. My heart was full watching her stand tall with both hands tightly gripped to her Tiny Tenkara rod, locked in titanic struggle with her first solo; a native char. The stalk, the casts and catch, had all followed a careful selection of Kebari, taken freely from "the daddy box". The whole interaction was filled with her rapid fire questions; of which one I liked, what the fish might think of them, where were the pink ones? She followed this with her strong suggestion to "tie it on quick".
That day we had spent the better part of the morning hiking and spot fishing along a very special waterway. This brook pours over each step like falls, forces its way under and past snags to rush through sandy flats, ever downstream shadowed by a canopy of branches. The spring fed water flows south to north in a popular recreation area, crisscrossed by trails that pass through a valley that sits in the shadow of tall granite cliffs by a railroad bed that dates back to 1849. Casual anglers down at the stocked pond, day hikers and dog walking passerby will readily (and sometimes gleefully) inform you that there are in fact "no fish in there, it's not big enough for anything but minnows". Though, time and again, despite being told of our folly (and to my own immense satisfaction) we have proved this opinion wildly incorrect on almost every visit. That particular day she had traipsed a couple miles while crushing all the snacks and harboring an eager drive to find those pretty speckled trout. Every bend was another chance to hold a fishy, each step an entire adventure for a toddler on the loose. It wasn't about proving people wrong or surprising anyone who may have doubted, but just to be outside and wild with dad.
I'm certainly not an authority on raising someone else's kids, with my daughter I am fortunate that she loves to be outside. My best trick will always be somehow managing to make sure that it was fun, an experience to anticipate. As I write this, she is a first grader. Six years old with a palpable spirit of enjoyment for venturing out, for heading deep into the woods, or as far up any body of water that we can get to. The spike in her excitement just talking about a next trip is enough to make me grin.
Instilling the fire to explore was my one of my early steps, I'm thankful it stuck with her so far and I hope fervently that it persists for as long as it can. Fighting the allure of indoors, with the abundance of snacks, games and television can be a hard, real obstacle in the way of cutting out to find your wild side.
For a time, the first hurdle faced before any adventure was breaking through what the current comfort level might be; beginning the packing of bags, gathering our gear and feeling the excitement build for the greatness of the outdoors ahead of us. Sometimes it was easier to break away than others, but always worth it for both of us. As she has grown older she has recognized for herself that these days are important to her, she will stop what she may be doing to ask me questions about upcoming adventures, things that usually boil down to where and when.
Getting a fire of intention and motivation for exploration kindled can sometimes be the hardest battle of teaching your kid to fish, or even getting them to go out there with you. They have a wide open desire to be out there and they may not even realize that until they're out there in it, so letting them explore WITH you is an important aspect. Giving them a sense ownership over the adventure, allowing them the opportunity to make decisions and therefore affecting the flow of your outing is a feat that makes them feel like the power to explore (while learning) is their own hands. It's not always easy to pull off, but when you can line everything up in that way, the kiddos will be making some real connections and memories. Sometimes an easier thing to do than others, plans don't always happen the way you want, especially with kids.
Despite feeling like sometimes I am just making it up as I go long (I totally am), I've stumbled upon a few practices that are near foolproof for enticing her out the door. Finding the elements that offer a strong appeal is key, a something to look forward to makes the legs pump faster.
1. Find a good view
My daughter loves seeing pretty landscapes in nature and I have found this is a useful way to entice her to new spots
2. Lunch (or snacks) in the woods
Armies and kids march on their stomachs. Having an ample bag of tasty treats or a sack lunch under some trees, or next to a river has a strong appeal to ever hungry adventurers. You would not believe the ascents and obstacles my little girl has made short work of, all because hot chocolate was on the line.
3. Decision Making
Pick a few spots you'd like to go ramble, then let your adventure buddy pick one of them. Most of our outings begin with my inquiry of; "Mountain, River or Forest?" The only trick here is that I have meticulously chosen each option completely based on the presence of running water and possibility of fish there.
Any temptations beyond these usually aren't necessary, though occasionally the promise of a playground on the way home or a donut on the way there will seal the deal.
(As a bonus, all these tips works on adults too.)
Making sure everyone has fun (including you) can be taxing. If it starts becoming too much or is overwhelming in the planning or early stages, take a step back and simplify everything. It's very likely that if you're not enjoying yourself, your little buddy will likely pick up on that and join you. The opposite of this is also true, if you are having a great time and actively engaged the kid(s) should be right there with you.
About the Author
Nate Camp is a New England based outdoorsman Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) volunteer and Connecticut Liaison for its Armed Forces Initiative (AFI). Nate is a Marine Corps Veteran, Chef, and Tenkara Ambassador.
Very often found exploring the rocky waterways, wild areas, and trails of New England and beyond, while enthusiastically practicing his outdoor skills and constantly learning new ones.
Eager for everyone to have the opportunity to find a joy and love of the outdoors; Nate works to foster that love of adventure in wild places with others and especially his young daughter. Sharing experiences through food, photographs, and writing are some of his methods of investing in the development of new outdoors lovers from all backgrounds.