Yep! Great dad! I remember freezing under a tree waiting to get picked up before everyone had phones and we didn't have a way to plan. I remember getting stuck in the canyon again because of rain and having to wait for it to dry out and build contraptions out of shrubs to give the tire traction. I remember flipping in the rapids, avoiding horse stampedes, wolves, bears and mountain lions. Not to mention the occasional rattle snake. Planting fence posts in AZ rock wasn't fun. Neither was building an apron catchment but I can say after having done it all, shoveling shit, bailing hay learning forestry and everything else. Not much bothers me and when everything falls apart that is when I thrive most. Great dad!
Steven very much enjoyed this. Yesterday, in what was left of a full moon, early dawn, we hiked up the mountain to wedge toys into a rock outcropping visible from the chairlift that gets them off the base of the mountain, onto, well the mountain. And while bringing legos up a ski lift is a far cry from bagging caribou in Alaska, my kids have yet to land in the hospital for it. As well as getting them off their ipads. Thanks for this article, a great piece.
I’m in complete agreement. The simple, yet important principles, that are part of what used to be valued are still important today in the “REAL World.”
I completely agree with your assessment at the end. I, too, want my kids to be tough. Both mentally and physically. So far, I seem to have been successful since they come home with stories of their classmates being so weak and whiny about the smallest things.
One of the first things my 4-yr-old grandson clamors for when he visits is "a little hikey-hike, Poppa" on the trail we have carved out on the steep terrain of our 40-acre property in the mountains of Northern Colorado. This city kid is all-in, scrambling up rock walls, learning to avoid cactus and yucca (often unsuccessful) and critters (elk, deer, turkey, a variety of rodents, bears, rattlesnakes, coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats). At vista points he exclaims, "just look at this!" and spreads his arms in appreciation. Of course we're careful and use the opportunity to talk about nature, safety, conservation, etc., but our joy at his joy is beyond price.
Resilience. That's what I've tried to teach my kids. From offshore fishing in a 14 foot kayak to hunkering down in a hail storm above the tree line. These lessons last a lifetime and, honestly, cannot be learned from organized sports. The fact they are organized constrains the lessons.
My mother, a single parent in the 60’s used to take my brother and me up into the wilds of Maine camping without a tent-just sleeping bags, mosquito netting and our camping equipment. We fished in the morning for breakfasts and hiked to explore the area. Like the author’s kids, I complained, loudly and long, and I’m pretty sure some of the other parents thought she was crazy, abusive, or both. But among my friends and acquaintances, I have always been among the most adventurous and resilient which I credit to my mother’s getting us outside and teaching us about nature. They are qualities that have served me well through many difficult times, not to mention giving me a lasting love of the outdoors.
Oh, my goodness! As a long time fan of Steve Rinella's body of work, I am super delighted that the Meateater and TFP suddenly joined forces in my inbox! I whole heartedly agree with Steve. I was raised in the woods, raised my own 2 boys outdoors, and now I am a female empty nester hunting, angling and gathering my way through life. I have some remarkable friends who also live this adventure, as participants and advocates, and my adult kids have skills that help them explore and connect to the places and people where they are living, working, and playing. It doesn't have to be a harvesting and eating relationship; even hunting kids should play with frogs, skip rocks, identify birds, sneak up on bunnies, climb trees, or take pictures. They can write, draw, paint or sing about the world, even the grizzlies. But they definitely do these things best when we take them out in it, to the edge of what they know, where the only way through it is to grit their teeth, learn and grow!
Dude. I raised five kids to adulthood with tons of outdoor adventure In Alaska, Oregon, and Wisconsin, from backpacking, to mountain climbing, to fishing, to skiing. But leaving a ten year old kid by himself with a pile of caribou meat (basically, bear bait), a shotgun, and two grizzlies nearby—so that you can hike two miles away for more carbon meat? A 40 minute round trip? That’s f*cking insane. Not something anyone should brag about. The kid isn’t going to kill a grizzly with a shotgun even if he manages to hit it. You’re not writing this article if your kid hadn’t gotten lucky. Damn lucky. You’d instead be spending your time fighting in the courts for shared custody. And you’d be lucky to get it. And lucky I wasn’t the judge. There’s instilling a spirit of adventure, and there’s irresponsible recklessness. You crossed the line.
Way to go Free Press having Rinella write for you. Finally someone other than an ivy league drone.
Overcoming adversity is how you build self-confidence. Too many parents shelter their children from any kind of risk or challenge. Then they get an unconfident neurotic adult.
Today I have a little bit of a black eye, swollen bridge of my nose, and it hurts to chew. I was boxing yesterday and have a fight coming up.
I tend to put my kids in wrestling and boxing. After eating a punch to the face or getting slammed in wrestling. Well... The idea of micro aggressions just seems stupid.
Adventuring like this may be good for kids. But keep in mind that mankind eagerly left the primitive way of life so many find appealing. I grew up in a rural area, with a family culture that lived off the land for generations. We grew vegetables, raised pigs and chickens, milked cows and hunted for deer, rabbits, etc. We carried water, used an outdoor privy, did all that farmwork someone called glorious. Really? We envied the people who had jobs that provided for their needs without having to be “close to nature.” We longed for the day when an easier way of life would be available and never looked back once we achieved it. Please don’t be offended, but I find it funny how those who don’t have to live in primitive conditions think it’s romantic.
I love this and I wish I had been taught more of these skills.
Bravo!
Yep! Great dad! I remember freezing under a tree waiting to get picked up before everyone had phones and we didn't have a way to plan. I remember getting stuck in the canyon again because of rain and having to wait for it to dry out and build contraptions out of shrubs to give the tire traction. I remember flipping in the rapids, avoiding horse stampedes, wolves, bears and mountain lions. Not to mention the occasional rattle snake. Planting fence posts in AZ rock wasn't fun. Neither was building an apron catchment but I can say after having done it all, shoveling shit, bailing hay learning forestry and everything else. Not much bothers me and when everything falls apart that is when I thrive most. Great dad!
Steven very much enjoyed this. Yesterday, in what was left of a full moon, early dawn, we hiked up the mountain to wedge toys into a rock outcropping visible from the chairlift that gets them off the base of the mountain, onto, well the mountain. And while bringing legos up a ski lift is a far cry from bagging caribou in Alaska, my kids have yet to land in the hospital for it. As well as getting them off their ipads. Thanks for this article, a great piece.
I’m in complete agreement. The simple, yet important principles, that are part of what used to be valued are still important today in the “REAL World.”
An appreciation of Teddy Roosevelt is salutary for a parent
I completely agree with your assessment at the end. I, too, want my kids to be tough. Both mentally and physically. So far, I seem to have been successful since they come home with stories of their classmates being so weak and whiny about the smallest things.
Well done. It is great to read about someone raising responsible and resilient humans!
Wow. Go you! I’m glad to read about raising tough, resilient, hard-working kids. But I couldn’t help feeling glad that I’m not your child. 😂
One of the first things my 4-yr-old grandson clamors for when he visits is "a little hikey-hike, Poppa" on the trail we have carved out on the steep terrain of our 40-acre property in the mountains of Northern Colorado. This city kid is all-in, scrambling up rock walls, learning to avoid cactus and yucca (often unsuccessful) and critters (elk, deer, turkey, a variety of rodents, bears, rattlesnakes, coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats). At vista points he exclaims, "just look at this!" and spreads his arms in appreciation. Of course we're careful and use the opportunity to talk about nature, safety, conservation, etc., but our joy at his joy is beyond price.
Resilience. That's what I've tried to teach my kids. From offshore fishing in a 14 foot kayak to hunkering down in a hail storm above the tree line. These lessons last a lifetime and, honestly, cannot be learned from organized sports. The fact they are organized constrains the lessons.
Well written, as usual, Steve.
Thank you.
My mother, a single parent in the 60’s used to take my brother and me up into the wilds of Maine camping without a tent-just sleeping bags, mosquito netting and our camping equipment. We fished in the morning for breakfasts and hiked to explore the area. Like the author’s kids, I complained, loudly and long, and I’m pretty sure some of the other parents thought she was crazy, abusive, or both. But among my friends and acquaintances, I have always been among the most adventurous and resilient which I credit to my mother’s getting us outside and teaching us about nature. They are qualities that have served me well through many difficult times, not to mention giving me a lasting love of the outdoors.
Oh, my goodness! As a long time fan of Steve Rinella's body of work, I am super delighted that the Meateater and TFP suddenly joined forces in my inbox! I whole heartedly agree with Steve. I was raised in the woods, raised my own 2 boys outdoors, and now I am a female empty nester hunting, angling and gathering my way through life. I have some remarkable friends who also live this adventure, as participants and advocates, and my adult kids have skills that help them explore and connect to the places and people where they are living, working, and playing. It doesn't have to be a harvesting and eating relationship; even hunting kids should play with frogs, skip rocks, identify birds, sneak up on bunnies, climb trees, or take pictures. They can write, draw, paint or sing about the world, even the grizzlies. But they definitely do these things best when we take them out in it, to the edge of what they know, where the only way through it is to grit their teeth, learn and grow!
Dude. I raised five kids to adulthood with tons of outdoor adventure In Alaska, Oregon, and Wisconsin, from backpacking, to mountain climbing, to fishing, to skiing. But leaving a ten year old kid by himself with a pile of caribou meat (basically, bear bait), a shotgun, and two grizzlies nearby—so that you can hike two miles away for more carbon meat? A 40 minute round trip? That’s f*cking insane. Not something anyone should brag about. The kid isn’t going to kill a grizzly with a shotgun even if he manages to hit it. You’re not writing this article if your kid hadn’t gotten lucky. Damn lucky. You’d instead be spending your time fighting in the courts for shared custody. And you’d be lucky to get it. And lucky I wasn’t the judge. There’s instilling a spirit of adventure, and there’s irresponsible recklessness. You crossed the line.
Thank you. My point exactly, minus the cussing.
*caribou meat
Way to go Free Press having Rinella write for you. Finally someone other than an ivy league drone.
Overcoming adversity is how you build self-confidence. Too many parents shelter their children from any kind of risk or challenge. Then they get an unconfident neurotic adult.
Today I have a little bit of a black eye, swollen bridge of my nose, and it hurts to chew. I was boxing yesterday and have a fight coming up.
I tend to put my kids in wrestling and boxing. After eating a punch to the face or getting slammed in wrestling. Well... The idea of micro aggressions just seems stupid.
Adventuring like this may be good for kids. But keep in mind that mankind eagerly left the primitive way of life so many find appealing. I grew up in a rural area, with a family culture that lived off the land for generations. We grew vegetables, raised pigs and chickens, milked cows and hunted for deer, rabbits, etc. We carried water, used an outdoor privy, did all that farmwork someone called glorious. Really? We envied the people who had jobs that provided for their needs without having to be “close to nature.” We longed for the day when an easier way of life would be available and never looked back once we achieved it. Please don’t be offended, but I find it funny how those who don’t have to live in primitive conditions think it’s romantic.