Feb 14 2010
What Is The Best Way To Teach Kids About Fishing And The Environment?
I recently started a tri-state non-profit fishing class for kids in the Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin area called The Fishing Tree, www.thefishingtree.com.
We teach kids about fish species, equipment, lure selection, safety etc. We only get a few hours and want to make sure they have fun and retain info. Do you find kids retain more from being read to, reading themselves, hands on learning, videos, etc?
I have my own opinions, but want to see what others think.
Without doubt they only learn after their curiosity has been piqued.
Hands down Hands on!
Keep up the fine work. You just might help to keep some kids off drugs. Thank You!
God Bless.
I agree with exert. I was an Assistant Scoutmaster for a while, and grew up in boy scouts. I found that I learned best when I had my interest peaked, and then actually had the chance to participate in the activity. Later on I noticed that the boys learned best when you would explain something to them, show them how to do it, and then let them do it. Works just about everytime, but you’ll almost always have atleast one kid who could care-less.
Good luck to you and the program!
First off, wish there were more people workin’ with kids and the Outdoors like yourself, my hats off to ya’ : )
!! As far as chosin’ best for them to retain what they’ve learned, that definately would be hands-on. There are video’s on the market, but bein’ and participating along side them is truly an experience that one just cannot forget. Have two beautiful grandkids and when fishing I could give a “rats a _ _”, if I catch a thing, just the sight of their faces lightin’ up and hearin’ “fish on”, is for me the greatest!!!
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For the kids, “tip up and tight lines”
ROB, you are doing a great thing. I have grand children now and i take them as much as they want to go. I have found just get them out there start em on crickets for pan fish and let them go, as a bonus you can point things out as you go. Remember if children are interested they will ask a lot of questions so get out there the outdoors is full of materials.
JUST REMEMBER CHILDREN ARE BETTER TAUGHT FROM US SO THEY CAN BE LEADERS NOT FOLLOWERS OF THE WRONG CROWD.
Hands on, the way we learn when we are braught int o this world is from hands on techniques. keep the kids entertained while teaching them about fishing is the key, as long as they are having fun they are learning. I whnet to many fishing camps as a kid, and enjoyed the ones that let me do what i was being taught the ost. the ones i didn’t get anything out of were the ones where we would watch movies on differant spices of fish, thier habitats, and it talked in scientific terms.
remember you are dealing with kids, keep the big words t oa minimum, but put them in thier from time to time to broadedn thier vocabulay and to make the class interesting.
Definitely hands on……..you might take them fishing and while they are doing that somebody could be using a video recorder to capture the action. Later, you might have hotdogs and burgers for everyone and set up a TV and have everyone watch the video while they ate…………..I know I am always hungry after a hard day on the water. Good Luck and personally I think it’s a great thing you are doing by getting kids interested in fishing.
BTW, I looked up fishingtree.com ……… A very goog looking site. Keep up the good work and let us know if we can help with some more ideas.
I have to say hands on learning. In my opinion, the best way to teach kids about fishing and the environment is to get them out there so they can experience them both.