Tag Archives: #giving back

Most of us didn’t learn to love the outdoors from a book.We learned it from wet boots, muddy hands, and the patient adults who showed us how to tell a deer track from a dog print without turning it into a pop quiz. Ask anyone in the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council how they got started, and you’ll hear familiar stories: fishing with a grandparent at a lake that “used to be quieter,” learning to shoot in the field instead of a classroom, or being turned loose in the woods with just enough supervision to keep things legal. These aren’t just fond memories—they’re the starting points of lifelong conservationists. And while every story is different, they all share the same thing:Someone showed us the way. Why Kids Need the Outdoors More Than Ever Today’s kids face a different world than many of us grew up in.More screens, less unstructured time, and fewer backyards that turn into wilderness with enough imagination. But the curiosity is still there. Kids are still kids—put them near a creek, and they’ll find the deepest part to step into whether you warned them or not. Hands-on discovery still works.Tadpoles still turn into frogs.Tracks still tell stories.And the outdoors still has a way of teaching patience, responsibility, and humility the same way it always has. (Usually by the method known as “the one that got away.” Some lessons never change.) Mentorship: The Thread That Connects Generations If you look back at your own outdoor education, chances are it didn’t come from a single moment; it came from a series of small ones. A parent teaching you to read a compass. A grandparent pointing out bird calls. A neighbor explaining why you don’t shout when you’re trying to spot a buck. Those lessons stick because someone cared enough to pass them on. That’s what the INWC works to protect: not just wildlife, not just habitat, but knowledge.Knowledge that only survives when people deliberately hand it down. And that’s why youth outreach matters. What INWC Is Doing for the Next Generation Kids Fishing Day Over a thousand young anglers get the chance to make their first cast, learn new skills, and leave with a fishing pole they’ll use long after the event. For many, it’s their first real connection to the outdoors—and the spark that leads to a lifetime of stewardship. Camp Reed Outdoor Education Our volunteers bring wildlife skulls, skins, and stories to hundreds of kids. The questions they ask range from brilliant to hilariously blunt, but the point is always the same: get them curious. Once a kid holds a beaver skull, “conservation” stops being an abstract idea. It becomes real. Growing Mentorship Opportunities We’re expanding opportunities for kids and teens to learn from experienced outdoorspeople. Because every accomplished hunter, angler, or conservationist started with someone who showed them the ropes, and now it’s our turn. Together, these programs form a pipeline of knowledge, respect, and enthusiasm that keeps Washington’s outdoor traditions alive. Why This Matters for Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday is more than a national moment of generosity; it’s our chance, as a community, to invest in the future of Washington’s outdoor heritage. If we don’t pass these skills, values, and traditions to the next generation, they won’t magically reappear.They’ll fade, slowly and quietly, the way underused trails do. But the opposite is also true:When we invest in kids, the outdoors stays alive.Not just the landscapes—the legacy. And that’s where you come in. A Strong Call to Action: Help Us Pass the Torch If you believe in what Kids Fishing Day does…If you want to put skulls, skins, and real wildlife education into kids’ hands…If you understand how powerful one good mentor can be…If you want Washington’s outdoor traditions to survive, not just in memory, but in practice… Then we need you to stand with us on Giving Tuesday. Your donation goes directly toward the youth programs, outreach, mentorship, and hands-on conservation education that keep the next generation connected to the wild. This is not abstract.This is not someday.This is right now. Help us pass the torch.Help us shape tomorrow’s stewards.Help us keep the wild alive, one kid at a time. 👉 Donate this Giving Tuesday and pay it forward to the next generation Thank you for standing with us—and for believing that the future is worth investing in.