Advanced Outdoor curriculum for High School Students...

[Skillz]

Hello from Minnesota!!!

I currently teach a Physical Education class in the great State of Minnesota. I recently spoke with my principal in regards to our school offering an advanced outdoor curriculum, ie> fishing, hunting, camping, and other lifelong outdoor sporting activities. This would be an elective class for juniors and seniors who would rather take this class than sit in a study hall... At any rate, I am wondering if anyone out there knows of other schools which offer a similar course, or if anyone would like to add ideas as to which direction we should take in preparing this. The opportunities are endless, but our budget is not. This is my major concern. I would imagine sports retailers would be able to come and do "promos" or something of this nature to help sell their products, and we in turn, will learn in the process. As I have to get a rough draft of my proposed curriculum to my principal asap, any thoughts and ideas posted the sooner the better are helpful. Thanks in advance!!!!

skz

[skipjackoh]

i know the ohio dnr would be very helpful. i do not know about mn.division of wildlife,but thats where i would start.
later

[mtwalleye]

Here's a couple of things that might help you get started. Brett French, who works with me at the Gazette in Billings, wrote a story with some names of teachers involved in angling education at the junior high and high school level for our Outdoors section last year. Here's the link and it may give you some names of people you can call:

http://www.billingsgazette.com/archive.php?section=outdoors&display=/rednews//2001/05/03/build/outdoors/1fishing.inc

Also, you might try e-mailing Dave Hagengruber at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, who is the youth angling coordinator for the department to see if he has any materials that he can send you. He works with schools in Montana. His e-mail is: dhagengruber@state.mt.us.

Hope that helps. -- mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walleyes Unlimited
www.walleyesunlimited.com

[Smokin J]

SKILLZ
Go for it, I wish our district would allow this type of class. Funny story from my student teaching. People in the PE Dept. talked about a lifetime sports class that had been offered a few years before. They said it was cancelled because when the students went bowhunting or fishing some of them would not come back to school to finish the day. Sounded to me like a good class!
Smokin J

[Buckeye]

Skillz don't forget to incorporate conservation into your lesson plan. You have one of the country's leading conservation groups (Pheasants Forever) headquartered in St. Paul MN to help out. They have some great materials available through their Leopould Education Project. The PF web site is www.pheasantsforever.org Look under the "youth programs" section. You may want to contact Jeremy Higgins and Janine Newhouse at the PF national office. Jeremy is the "Ringnecks" (PF's youth members) coordinator and Janine is the education specialist for LEP.

Good luck and congrats on a great idea.

Eric Hirzel

[rvvrrat]

Skillz,

There has been a very similar class at Mayo High School in Rochester for many years. It is called Sportsman Biology. The phone # for the school is 507-285-8819. They even have a webpage: http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/mayo/ This gets you to the school's homepage, then go to Department and Staff Listings in the left combo box, then Science, the first listing is for Sam Bailey and is a link to the class page.

My nephews took this class a few years ago from the program's originator and loved it.

Pete

[Grey Wolf]

My son took a very similar class at Anoka Sr high in his Sr year. This class was offered to Sr's only. As a boyscout leader the curriculum of this class appealed to me, as they did everything you mentioned and more. The kids had to write a paper in their Jr year why they thought that they should be accepted into the class. The number for the school is 763-506-6200. The name of the class is called Outdoor Adventures, call the school and they can put you in touch with the teachers as I won't list their names here. the kids really enjoyed it.

[AquaMan]

I would draft a letter outlining your intentions and what you would like from sponsors and send it to the following groups:

MN Deer Hunter Association
MN Chapter of Ducks Unlimited
MN Waterfowl Association
MN Chapter of Pheasants Forever
MN Grouse Society
PERM
MN DNR
MN Office of the US Fish & Wild Life

Any of these groups have programs for youths currently and would welcome an opportunity to provide resources for a high school program. Let me know if you need any info (Address, contacts, etc.) on any of these groups.

Additionally, major retailers like Cabelas, Gander Mountain, etc and major MFR's like Northland, Federal and even Chevy or Ford would be candidates for this opportunity. Funds are tight this year, but these are our future hunters/fishers and consumers. So it would make sense to work with them now. It is the only way to end dwindling support.

Good luck and what a great idea!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...