A while back MDP posted about a outdoor mentor he had as a youth and the effect it had on his life. He also stated that he had a collection of extra gear that he wanted to pass a long to some (un)deserving youth. I was hesitant to respond but eventually relented because of my recent experiences. In Feb of this year my nephew came to live with me because....well lets just say he wasnt thriving in his home environment. Helping my nephew took a great deal of energy and I found that it was important for me to reach out to my community as a whole to see him florish. When he came to live with my wife and I he was heavily medicated, both self and prescribed, and failing the 8th grade which he rarely attended. He was ingaging in numerous behaviors that could have gotten him jailed and that we felt would eventually lead him to an early demise. It seems that MDP found my nephew to be a suitable canidate and chose him to recieve a great collection of useful outdoor gear. I tried to go back and find the original giveawy post but it was too far back so I dont have pics of all the gear. Maybe Marion can post a pic or link.
I am posting all this back ground here in the W&SS forum because I feel that the outdoor experiences I shared the past 5 months with my nephew, will go along way towards ensuring my nephews survival. It was really profound to see such an amazing transformation. I feel interacting with the outdoors played a huge role. At the end of the school year he was pulling a B+ average, didnt miss any school and was drug free. I tried to impart as many basic survival skills as possible because of the overall psychological effect I think they can have. Feeling secure is a base need.
Anyways I just wanted to thank Marion and all the participants here at WSS for the inspiration for many of our outings and projects.
Last week my wife, son, nephew, brother and I all headed to the Mendo coast for a few days of camping and carnage on the sea. My nephew was eager to put some of his new gear to use.
His favorite thing was a small neck knife. He has been sleeping with it since he received it. Even when not camping. It is amazing the joy a 1.5" of steel can bring.
As soon as we got to camp we hit the water. The fishing was hot.
Not bad for an hour and a half or so.
No respect.
We set up some quick tarp shelters. Then my brother informed my nephew of all the autracities that the the local wild life were capable of. It was only his second time camping. It was fun.
Next my nephew helped with dinner using his new CS Canadian to dice up some fresh caught cabazon. There are many better eating fish. Firm meat with a crab/octopuss flavor.
The next day we used the fish carcass as crab bait and dropped a trap before we went fishing.
Another great day on the water. My brother with our catch
A few Rock Crabs. A word of cation when hauling a loaded crab trap onto your kayak. You can feel the pinch thru a 7mm wetsuit. I ended up just thowing it on my brothers kayak and yelling "paddle". We were able to save a few that were actually in the trap and not in my lap.
My nephew might have actually out fished me this day, which is a pretty great accomplishment. Here he is with 2 lingcod.
The whole trip was great. My nephew lit the camp fires with his fire starters. He used his new cordage to secure his tarp. He hung a glow stick near his shelter so no one would trip on it and maybe so he wasnt molested by racoons. If someone needed something he was quick to reach into his pack. He even busted out his P-38 when his parents/grandparents didnt have anything to open there dog's food this past weekend. At one point duing the camping trip he told me he had three knives on him. I told him me too! It was a great time.
Thanks Marion David Poff and all the participants here on WSS
Matt
I am posting all this back ground here in the W&SS forum because I feel that the outdoor experiences I shared the past 5 months with my nephew, will go along way towards ensuring my nephews survival. It was really profound to see such an amazing transformation. I feel interacting with the outdoors played a huge role. At the end of the school year he was pulling a B+ average, didnt miss any school and was drug free. I tried to impart as many basic survival skills as possible because of the overall psychological effect I think they can have. Feeling secure is a base need.
Anyways I just wanted to thank Marion and all the participants here at WSS for the inspiration for many of our outings and projects.
Last week my wife, son, nephew, brother and I all headed to the Mendo coast for a few days of camping and carnage on the sea. My nephew was eager to put some of his new gear to use.
His favorite thing was a small neck knife. He has been sleeping with it since he received it. Even when not camping. It is amazing the joy a 1.5" of steel can bring.
As soon as we got to camp we hit the water. The fishing was hot.
Not bad for an hour and a half or so.
No respect.
We set up some quick tarp shelters. Then my brother informed my nephew of all the autracities that the the local wild life were capable of. It was only his second time camping. It was fun.
Next my nephew helped with dinner using his new CS Canadian to dice up some fresh caught cabazon. There are many better eating fish. Firm meat with a crab/octopuss flavor.
The next day we used the fish carcass as crab bait and dropped a trap before we went fishing.
Another great day on the water. My brother with our catch
A few Rock Crabs. A word of cation when hauling a loaded crab trap onto your kayak. You can feel the pinch thru a 7mm wetsuit. I ended up just thowing it on my brothers kayak and yelling "paddle". We were able to save a few that were actually in the trap and not in my lap.
My nephew might have actually out fished me this day, which is a pretty great accomplishment. Here he is with 2 lingcod.
The whole trip was great. My nephew lit the camp fires with his fire starters. He used his new cordage to secure his tarp. He hung a glow stick near his shelter so no one would trip on it and maybe so he wasnt molested by racoons. If someone needed something he was quick to reach into his pack. He even busted out his P-38 when his parents/grandparents didnt have anything to open there dog's food this past weekend. At one point duing the camping trip he told me he had three knives on him. I told him me too! It was a great time.
Thanks Marion David Poff and all the participants here on WSS
Matt
