Yellowbird wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2013 at 6:28pm:


Thanks, YB!  We're hoping to see your smiling face back in the Q or at Copia sometime before we're all too far over-the-hill (well, I suppose we could STILL go to Copia, then!).

Writing that story was a lot of fun.  My experience w/"Charlie" encourages me that even today's cyber-wired youth will embrace the wilderness if simply given exposure to it.  He gives me faith in future generations.  Speaking of which, my younger son (now 23) - the one who had little patience for fishing & hasn't been to the Q in many years - is absolutely demanding
that I take him along this year!  That's the best news I've had in a long while....

Jimbo   

My compliments also to the story Jimbo.  It was the highlight of the BWJ for me.

-YB

Paddle Guy,
I wouldn't be concerned that you could have taken your daughter sooner.  Maybe if she had gone a year or two earlier, she would not have been ready and it would have been an unpleasant experience for her.  Just be glad that you lucked out and took her at a time went she was ready for it.  Also, going to a place like Sylvania which is small and closer to home was probably a good choice.

I had the joy of taking my 10 year old daughter into Sylvania Wilderness last August...partly as the result of some encouragment by Prouboy.  Wow...it sure was a life changer for her dad. 

I wasn't sure what to expect taking my little princess into the wilderness.  She hasn't stoped talking about it and she is expecting to go again this summer.

It seems like we can always find ways to talk ourselves out of that initial trip...they are too young...not enough experience in the canoe...not a good enough swimmer...what if it storms like crazy...

Just wish I would have stepped out on faith a little sooner.   

Now THAT's a FISH!!!  A fish like that is a lifechanger for a kid.
Prouboy, as one of those that sometimes rides herd on a group of up to 18 young people, I will say I can feel your pain on the noise etc.  I love solitude & often camp alone for that reason, but when you have 18 energetic young people out there ther will be more noise than I am comfortable with sometimes .  That's just the way it's goint to be.  Kids having fun will often be kids making noise.  We DO make sure their is a stack of firewood to last a couple of days when we leave, pick up all our trash & any other we can find, & with their permission we often help others with their gear on portages.  We always give smaller groups the right of way at any portage.
We have no electronics to create noise.  Just haven't figured out how to have a quiet game of capture the flag yet...

Kingfisher wrote on Dec 24^th, 2012 at 9:03pm:


Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile!

Jimbo   

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I'll have to track down that article!  I've been blessed to be able to take a couple of my nephews on trips (one sister said, "just bring him back alive, OK?").  No smiles like young smiles (in this pic, part of the fun was Gabe had to duck into the water to grab the pike).

I haven't taken young folks canoeing in many years.  I should. 

It's the old "Put up or shut up" thing.  You see, I've bitched about why adults (like scouting and church group leaders!!) don't teach kids wilderness canoeing ethics: like being QUIET, like respecting other's solitude, like keeping a clean camp and even cleaning up the crap others leave behind. 

Well, Jimbo's story, while talking about fish, got me thinking I should look for opportunities to teach a kid or two what I was taught way back in the day.

prouboy

A great article, indeed, Jimbo  up

And regardless of Stu's opinions on your photography, you're an excellent writer!

Hope you and everyone else here on the QJ is having a wonderful holiday season.

ML

DentonDoc wrote on Dec 25^th, 2012 at 3:29am:


Yeah, thanks for fishing that thing up!   It came in handy!  It's now the official camp frisbee.

Also, thanks for the heads-up re: that marauding turtle!  One night's dinner (and a good stringer) might have swam away if I had not been on the alert!

Jimbo