Wichita, KS, July 21, 2011. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and Responsive Management recently completed an assessment of national and selected statewide recruitment and retention programs for hunters, anglers, and sport shooters under a Multistate Conservation Grant. This study was designed to (1) measure interest and participation in hunting, fishing, and sport shooting before and after involvement in various recruitment and retention programs and (2) identify specific, research-based recommendations and strategies to enhance hunting, fishing, and sport shooting recruitment and retention programs. To access the final report, please click here:
Responsive Management included Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors participants in this study.
One statistic that stood out from the Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors perspective was that the children reached by this program had the smallest proportion of participants with Family Members who hunt/fish/shoot. The Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors program is not preaching to the choir. It is reaching children who more than likely would not have the opportunity to engage the great outdoors otherwise.
As this study shows, there are lots of great efforts being put forth to get more folks participating in hunting/shooting/fishing. We were pleased to see that Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors ranked:
- 2nd for increasing strong approval of hunting.
- 2nd for increasing the likelihood of going hunting.
- 2nd for increasing the likelihood of going shooting
- 4th for increasing likelihood of going fishing.
These results reflect well on the mentors who have volunteered to spend time outdoors with a child, sharing their passion for the great outdoors. Big Brothers Big Sisters has volumes of data showing that one-on-one mentoring has a positive impact on a child’s life. These results show that it can be beneficial in other ways as well.
It is an interesting study worthy of your time to review.
About Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors is a Wichita, Kansas-based national organization dedicated to providing children with mentors who will share with them the experiences of traditional outdoor activities. The heart of the group's mission is to give children opportunities to connect with nature that they more than likely won't have without a mentor showing them the way. Partnering with organizations with like-minded conservation and youth participation efforts like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pheasants Forever, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, among others, volunteers with a passion for the outdoors can give a child the chance to go fish, hunt, or simply spend time in the fields with a caring adult. For more information about Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, please visit www.outdoormentors.org.
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