The “What Can We Do, What Should We Do” Challenge

Every so often the Outdoor Bloggers Summit, of which I am a proud member of, will throw out a challenge to it’s blogger membership. These challenges are meant to make us think, as well as unite us on a progressive front for action. A few days ago, a new challenge was thrown out to the community. The “What Can We Do, What Should We Do” challenge focuses on the following:

Next week, May 19 - 25, 2008, I want to offer a challenge to everyone who reads this blog. I’m calling it the “What Can We Do, What Should We Do” challenge. It really has two parts. “What Can We Do” means what can we as individual hunters/anglers and bloggers do to support and promote the activities that we love. “What Should We Do” addresses the bigger issue of what the community as a whole, and the community organizations that ask for our money, should do to promote and protect hunting and fishing and all outdoor sports.

Like I said, they want us to think. I hate thinking. I hate thinking about issues that each of us should have already considered, but many of us haven’t.

“What Can We Do”

For once, I might have an easy answer. What can we do, as individual hunters/anglers and bloggers, to promote and support the activities we love? I have read a few of the other entries from bloggers on this issue. Many of them have focused on the simple act of blogging about our passions, while promoting our interests in a positive way. This in and of itself is quite compelling. Spread the word about the outdoors and our particular interests in a positive light. To take that a step further, I would suggest actually getting out there and living those pursuits in a postive light, as well.

Many times I have come across an area while fishing that, at first site, looked quite disgusting. Old fishing line thrown about, some tangled up in the trees above, a random fishing bobber floating in the middle of a lake without being attached to a pole. Before I even start my day fishing, I look around and clean up the place a bit. I do this with camping as well. If we help clean up some of these places we gain enjoyment from, perhaps we can inspire someone else to come out and really experience something great for the first time.

Speaking of experiencing something great for the first time…when was the last time we took someone with us? I know there are people I work with that have never even cast a pole into a rippling pond. They don’t know what it is like to get their hands dirty, grab a crawler, bait the hook, and even perhaps feel the tug of that first bite. You want to be an inspiration and make someone want to get outdoors? There is no better way than taking someone with you. My grandpa done that. I still have fond memories of fishing the banks with him, and still enjoy getting out myself.

“What Should We Do”

This is a bit of a bigger issue. What can the community as a whole, and the community organizations that ask for our money, do to promote and protect hunting and fishing and all outdoors activities? If I lived in Boulder, Colorado-a place known for it’s varied outdoor activities, this answer would be easy. Since I live in a small northern Indiana town with the nearest lake 40 miles away, it is a bit tougher.

To promote and protect outdoor activities, I feel that first there has to be a group of like-minded individuals in the community who share the same passion. With gasoline prices being high, right now in Indiana biking has become a pretty big activity. Most big cities are implementing new bike paths and trails, but on a smaller scale, this can be done in smaller communities as well. Actually, this approach may be even easier in smaller towns. It isn’t nearly as far from one side of town to the other and people are more likely to perhaps use a new system of local transportation.

I do feel that change can only be implemented from the bottom up. I am alluding to our own city councils and lawmakers. If there is an issue or something that you think could help promote your activity and bring more awareness, get in contact with these people about your ideas. An idea never costs anything, but what can be gained can be enormous with the right person backing it.

Like to fish? How about a local fishing tournament? It isn’t to hard to get people to jump on a bandwagon, once that bandwagon has been built. I think it all has to do with expression and the sharing of ideas. How about educating the kids through school programs-perhaps be a guest speaker and talk to a class or two about your passion and why you think it is important. There are many things that can be done, but all of them will take an interest, general knowledge, and passion for what you are wanting to accomplish. These ideas involve individuals to promote the outdoors within their communities and also establish working relationships with our elected officials. If they aren’t willing to think about the new proposals, you always have that option of voting them out at the end of their term-then trying again.