Instilling a Passion for the Natural World – One Student at a Time

“There’s no denying the benefits of the Internet. But electronic immersion without a force to balance it creates a hole in the boat. It drains our ability to pay attention, think clearly and be productive and creative. A reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well being, spirit and survival.”  -Richard Louv

As an educator, my past few years have been spent trying to drill that idea and the excitement of our natural world into the heads of electronically immersed teenagers…and a few adults as well. But honestly, without MY passion for that natural world, it would have been impossible. Every Monday my classes would start with questions about what outdoor adventure I experienced that weekend. Sharing my experiences reminded them of the wonders of the natural world they often forgot was right outside their doors.

Fall brought tales from my tree stand. I shared pictures of the raccoon family that walked by every evening, and Gus the groundhog who loved to climb 30 feet up the oak tree on the edge of the creek bottom. They heard stories of the turkey that were always just out of bow range, and the young bucks I passed on night after night while they asked why I didn’t shoot, then heard my reasoning with nodding heads. They would smile when I shared the harvest of a doe for our freezer, and ask for jerky. “PLEASE Mr. Hannaman?” Pictures of a patiently waited for mature buck brought the affirmation of what hunting and not shooting was all about. The Hannaman family deer camp was the envy of many and pictures of my adult son’s first trophy buck with his two year old daughter in his arms showed them the importance of family in outdoor experiences.

Winter was time for scouting reports and trail cam pictures of the fall’s survivors. Walks through the frigid woods and pictures of ice-covered coves at our Truman Lake house with my dog in tow showed them the value and beauty of getting outside, even when it’s not short sleeve weather.

Spring brought excitement, not only for their own prom and graduation and what lay beyond, but for tales of morels, turkey and the crappie spawn. Many of them discovered they could find “shrooms” often just a short walk from their subdivisions. Nearby ponds and lakes were full of crappie, and quite a few discovered the delicious bounty of Missouri at my encouragement to get outside and enjoy Mother Nature’s rebirth. There were always a few “ewwws” and curses for not impressing upon them the necessity for protection from those nasty ticks. A box load of turkey calls always gave them great pleasure at playing with the noisy toys, while aggravated my colleagues in the rooms next door.

Summer was MY time. June is usually a bear hunting trip with my family. My wife loves Alaska and has made great friends on our hunting trips in places like New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Sitting beside my daughter as she harvested her first bear, as a graduation present, will be remembered all my days. Bear stories would open class the first day of school. Fishing while my wife relaxes with her latest book as the day’s heat ebbed is a perfect way to close out a great summer day.

All of us can have great experiences, memories and adventures in our natural world. Just put down the iPhone, turn off the computer, silence the television and open your door and walk outside. I believe our souls beg for these experiences and blossom as a result.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri has been there for the Missouri natural world for 80 years. We are reaching out to the people of the Kansas City area on May 9^th to come and see what the natural world in their own back yard has to offer. Join us at the Independence Bass Pro Shop that afternoon from 3-5 PM followed by a banquet at the nearby Stoney Creek Inn that evening. Start a new adventure with CFM and plug that hole in the boat!

Guest blog post by Keith Hannaman

Keith Hannaman will be speaking during the seminars at Explore the Outdoors: Kansas City at Bass Pro Shops in Independence, MO on May 9. To learn more about the event and to register, visit the link here.

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The future of conservation truly is in the citizen’s hands. Read why.