I have an 8 year old great-niece with a burning desire for outdoor adventure. It started 5 years ago when we would go outside to turn over rocks to find bugs and worms. A month ago we dug out a quin-shee [snow cave] and it was my idea to get the camp stove and fix some hot chocolate, it was her idea to sleep out there. I am not sure what ignited her outdoor desires but do know I need to keep her fires stoked without smothering them. She talks of the day when she will be steering the canoe and taking me out on the river.

We had no children but always had youth around. I canoed in BWCA with two families for a number of years. They brought the girls and boys and the whole trip was catered to the kids. We would drive up at night so the kids never knew how long the drive was. Coolers with food they were used to so no suffering with food they did not like. Three portages to the same campsite each year for a while. The payoff came when the kids reached 10-12 and yearned for what lay beyond. One child did try it for a while and decided to stay home but the others still return.