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Tips & Tricks

by , Posted to on 05/28/2009 11:26 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/14/2009
Location: ND
Ladies,

What are your methods for keeping your kids engaged in fishing, hunting, camping, etc.?  How do you keep them safe but still make sure they enjoy the outdoors?

A couple things that come to mind for me from this past weekend:

1) I use a backpack for my son who is 8 months old.  I used it this past weekend when fishing and he had a blast watching but it still gave me the freedom to cast.  He fell asleep after awhile but I could still fish so we were both happy.  :O)

2) My daughter has a kids fishing rod and was having a blast casting until the plastic fish on the end got stuck in some rocks.  We were a little worried about her having a hook on the line since she was just learning how to cast and she wanted to hold the end of the line.  We ended up putting a leader on her line, followed by a couple weights and a plastic worm.  We put the worm right in the leader hook and squeezed it inside so it wouldn't break off and so she could see it.  The weight helped her to cast better, she got pretty good at it by the end of the day and we didn't have any major injuries from hooks.


For hunting:

1) I have also used the backpack for deer and pheasant hunting.  I do not carry my gun in those cases but it at least gives me the opportunity to get out and walk on those nice days and still take in some hunting.  I always have the kids wear their orange and carry cheerios in my pocket.  :O)




Joan Kleven
OFH Admin
Re: Tips & Tricks
by on 05/29/2009 7:34 PM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/30/2006
Location: NE

I believe in telling older kids what we're going to be doing before we start out. For example, if it's a hike, I tell them what I know about the route and what it'll be like to walk for whatever distance.  That way they're expecting a walk, not some other sort of activity.  If they're expecting lots of action and find out they're "just going for a walk," you'll have rebellion on your hands. 

Same goes for a camping trip.  Let them know what's around the area you'll be camping.  If there'll be fishing, let them know that, and if there won't be, tell them that.  Plan activities, and let them take part in the planning so they feel like they're an important part of the outing.  Let them help plan meals and pack the food, too.

Take things along for diversions, including plenty of snacks of various types, a camera they can be turned loose with, a game or two that can be played in the tent if it rains, and rain gear for hiking in the rain.  Plan to do out-of-the-ordinary things that will surprise and delight them, like hiking or exploring at night or in the rain.  Turn them loose with the camera after encouraging them to look at things from a unique angle (lying on the ground at the base of a tree and shooting upward, or lying at the edge of a lake or stream and shooting across the water's surface, or getting close to flowers, bugs, and leaves and shooting macro). 

"Survival depends on calm, clear, quick, and correct reasoning."
-Sheck Exley
Re: Tips & Tricks
by on 05/31/2009 9:52 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/14/2009
Location: ND
Good idea with the camera.  They have such great digital cameras for kids these days.  My daughter has one and she is constantly snapping pictures.  It's fun for them to see their "own" pictures.  :)
Joan Kleven
OFH Admin
Re: Tips & Tricks
by on 06/16/2009 8:59 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/16/2009
Location: ND
For a single mom with young kids I would start out exploring the wide world of back yard camping.  They get to try tent sleeping with a very close failsafe.  Live in an aparment? Grandma and Granpa's back yard or with a friend and her kids near her folk's place - especially a farm or ranch.  A screech owl or fox yapping in the middle of the night can be the absolutely most terrifying sound to a child (or an adult) who is not familiar with it.  Test the "YOU DO NOT LEAVE THE TENT AFTER BEDTIME WITHOUT WAKING UP MOM rule".  (Our son was about three and we were in a hotel in Fargo - he missed the bathroom door and ended up in the hall at 2:30 am - and those doors self lock behind.  Fortunately he could knock loudly...!)  This way you get to test your list, your equipment, your rules etc. without driving a long way.  Get some cheap kids binoculars and have them watch birds in the yard or area.  Look for bugs and at leaves with a magnifying glass.  Take a bird/ bug/ tree (your preference) book.    Share your ideas, simple recipes kids can help with...there is so much you can do - even if it is just in your yard.  (Take a day trip to a local park and come home and sleep in the tent!)    
Putting the Second Ammendment first - it protects ALL the other Ammendments!
Re: Tips & Tricks
by on 06/17/2009 5:29 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/30/2006
Location: NE
GREAT stuff!  Thanks for posting!
"Survival depends on calm, clear, quick, and correct reasoning."
-Sheck Exley
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Posted On: 05/28/2009 11:26 PM
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Tags: tricks, tips, hunting, kids, fishing, couple, ladies, keeping, engaged, methods
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