There are numerous small steps that we can take to make a difference. For instance, finding ways to make vacations more eco-friendly is one such step.

Following the pandemic, people realized the importance of taking breaks from work and spending time outside. While this is vital, it is equally important to do so in a sustainable manner.

If you’re looking to make your next vacation more environmentally friendly, there are plenty of simple steps you can take. You could consider a staycation or camping trip, opt for the more eco-friendly flight itinerary, cook your own food, and use public transportation to get around town. With these easy tips, you can enjoy your vacation while making a positive impact on the planet.

Types of Environmentally Conscious Vacations

Sometimes the biggest shift you can make starts with choosing the type of vacation that you’ll go on. While many people think of vacation as a long plane ride to a tropical beach, it doesn’t always have to be that way.

Many other vacation styles can help you get away from home without going too far. It’s amazing how far from home you can feel when you put some thought and effort into exploring the places that are all around you.

Staycations

A staycation is a great alternative to traveling far from home as it can be a fun and eco-friendly way to enjoy time off. With a staycation, you can explore your local area, try new activities, and support local businesses.

This might include a hotel stay downtown, a night out at a new restaurant, and catching a performance by a local band. Or find the museums you’ve overlooked by doing a walking tour of your own city or town.

Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but it also allows you to appreciate the beauty and culture of your own community. Plus, with less travel, you can save money and reduce the stress of packing and navigating unfamiliar places.

Overall, a staycation can be a relaxing and enjoyable way to recharge while minimizing your impact on the environment.

Camping

Camping is a unique and environmentally conscious way to travel. By spending time in nature and leaving technology behind, you can reconnect with the natural world and appreciate its beauty.

Camping also allows you to reduce your environmental impact by using fewer resources and producing less waste. You can cook your own food over a campfire, use a reusable water bottle, and pack out all your trash.

Additionally, camping provides an opportunity to learn about conservation and how to leave the environment in better condition than you found it. By choosing to camp, you can have a memorable trip while taking steps to preserve the environment for future generations.

Local Vacations

If you still want to get farther away from home, try looking for local vacations. When I was growing up, we often got on the train and took it two hours north to Chicago, where we would visit art museums, parks, and countless restaurants.

These mini-vacations were still exciting to my entire family. We would ride the train and watch the cornfields of Illinois pass by to end up in a massive city filled with entertainment. We got a vacation that was just like traveling hundreds of miles to New York, but with a short and fun train ride.

By reducing the distance you need to travel, you are reducing the amount of transportation-related carbon emissions that are released into the atmosphere. A short drive or train ride can take you to nearby destinations for hiking, sightseeing, or relaxing in a new environment.

Try looking closer to home for a trip that can still be fun for everyone!

How To Make Long-Distance Vacations More Eco-friendly

Sometimes there’s a vacation destination that you just have to go to. Those places can often be far away, but you can still find ways to make those trips more eco-friendly.

Choose the Most Direct Flight

Taking a flight can have a significant impact on carbon emissions, but there are several ways to reduce your impact when traveling by air. One option is to choose flights with fewer stopovers, as takeoff and landing contribute significantly to emissions.

Additionally, you can offset your carbon emissions by donating to a carbon offset program, which invests in renewable energy projects or carbon reduction initiatives to balance out the emissions from your flight.

By taking these steps, you can help reduce the environmental impact of your air travel.

Cook Your Food

Cooking your own food while on vacation can be a more environmentally friendly (and more pocketbook-friendly) option compared to eating out for every meal. When you eat out, you are likely to consume more processed and packaged foods, which generate more waste and require more resources to produce.

Cooking your own meals allows you to control the ingredients, reduce waste, and support local food systems by shopping at local markets.

Additionally, cooking with locally sourced ingredients can reduce the carbon emissions associated with transporting food long distances. By preparing your own meals, you can also save money and reduce the number of single-use items, such as plastic utensils and containers.

Overall, cooking your own food while on vacation can be a sustainable and enjoyable way to experience new flavors and support the environment.

Makeover Your Gear

Replacing your travel gear with more environmentally friendly items can be a simple but impactful way to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling. Choosing items made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo or recycled plastic, can help reduce waste and prevent the use of virgin resources.

For example, replacing disposable water bottles with a reusable one, and single-use plastic bags with reusable shopping bags, can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste generated during your trip.

Additionally, investing in durable gear that lasts longer can reduce the frequency of replacements, saving money in the long run. Ultralight backpacks for longer, more difficult backpacking trips are a great example of this. Ultralight backpacking gear makes good-quality gear out of less material, meaning more can be made with less material being produced.

By choosing more sustainable travel gear, you can travel with a clearer conscience and help protect the environment for future generations.

Use Public Transportation

Public transportation, such as buses, trains, and subways, is a more environmentally friendly option than driving a car. They can move many people at once, reducing the number of individual cars on the road and thereby lowering carbon emissions.

Additionally, they often use cleaner fuel sources and are more energy-efficient. By using public transportation, you can save money on fuel and parking costs while also reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality.

Moreover, public transportation promotes social interaction and reduces social isolation by connecting people from different communities. Ultimately, choosing to use public transportation can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and improve your quality of life.

The post How To Make Your Next Vacation More Eco-friendly appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Even with this as a primary goal, getting outside and learning about nature will foster essential life skills such as patience, responsibility, and so much more. Time spent outdoors improves academic achievement, strengthens communities, and deepens personal development and well-being.

With all the benefits laid out by countless research studies, the hardest part ends up being the first step of just getting kids outside and having fun. Luckily, there are thousands of engaging and creative ways to get kids out and learning about nature, such as hiking, camping, fishing, stargazing, outdoor crafts, gardening, and so much more.

Outdoor Activities To Do With Your Kids

Here are just a few examples of outdoor activities that you can do with your kids. Each activity offers unique and exciting experiences that can ignite a sense of adventure and wonder in most children.

Hiking

One of the easiest things to do on our list is to simply get up and go hiking. Hiking often sounds intimidating to many young kids, but it can be anything from a short walk around the local trails to a long-distance trek that takes several days.

Depending on the kid you take out, you can make a short hike longer and a long hike shorter, making it incredibly accommodating.

Kids can start hiking at almost any age. From the moment they walk, you can bring them along and let them move at their own pace. Even before they’re walking, it’s a good idea to introduce them to the concept by carrying them along on shorter hikes.

To make hiking more enjoyable, it’s important to make sure you have all the right gear. Hiking boots that fit properly can make all the difference when walking around on uneven terrain.

For longer treks, you can also bring along ultralight backpacks that make the load you carry significantly easier to bear. These make an excellent choice for kids learning how to hike with backpacks without making it too challenging from the start.

Camping

Camping with kids is a wonderful way to create special memories while teaching them about the natural world. Exploring the outdoors, observing plants and animals in their natural habitats, and learning basic survival skills all contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of nature.

Camping can help children develop a deeper connection with the environment and cultivate a love for the great outdoors. They can learn about the importance of conservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainability by practicing Leave No Trace principles while camping.

Moreover, camping provides a unique opportunity for families to unplug from technology and experience the beauty and tranquility of nature. Overall, camping with kids not only creates special memories but also helps them foster a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

Camping can be an excellent opportunity for parents to bond with their children in nature, particularly when equipped with a variety of activities to keep kids engaged. Establishing camping as a family tradition and gifting camping-related items to children can also enhance their enthusiasm for future trips.

Fishing

Making plans to go out and spend time next to the water can be a significant experience for kids. When they start fishing from a young age, there will be a massive learning curve until they finally catch their first fish. Once that first fish is caught, there will be a huge desire to get out and try again.

Fishing is also great because you can switch things up and try out fly fishing, deep sea fishing, or stick to your local ponds and lakes. It’s a versatile activity that can get you and your kids outside almost anywhere in the world.

Stargazing

Take the time to learn some stories of the constellations and your kids will instantly be enthralled by the stars above their heads. Push back the bedtime and stay up late enough for the night sky to dance for all to observe.

Many people don’t get the chance to see the night sky in its full glory. Taking your kids far enough outside of the city to see the stars without light pollution can be a formative experience filled with fun.

Outdoor Crafts

Crafting with nature encourages children to think creatively and problem-solve, as they figure out how to use and combine different materials. By connecting with nature in this way, children can develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and a greater sense of responsibility toward preserving it for future generations.

Here are five ideas for nature crafts to do with kids:

1. Leaf Rubbings: Take a nature walk and collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. Place the leaves under a piece of paper and rub a crayon or pencil over them to create a leaf impression on the paper.
2. Rock Painting: Collect smooth rocks and paint them with different colors and designs. Children can also use the rocks to make a nature sculpture or to create a rock garden.
3. Nature Collages: Collect a variety of natural materials such as leaves, flowers, feathers, and sticks. Have children arrange and glue them onto a piece of paper to create a nature collage.
4. Bird Feeders: Make a simple bird feeder using a pinecone, peanut butter, and birdseed. Hang the bird feeder outside and observe the birds that come to eat.
5. Nature Weaving: Create a loom using sticks and yarn. Collect natural materials such as leaves, grasses, and twigs to weave into the yarn to create a nature weaving.

Gardening

Building or tending to a garden can be a valuable learning experience for children, as they get to interact with the soil and plants they cultivate. Gardening provides a tangible and edible outcome, which can be one of the best parts of the experience. It can also teach children of all ages about the origins of food and the responsibility of caring for a garden throughout the season.

Keeping Your Kids Safe Outdoors

Teaching your kids how to stay safe when spending time outdoors is a crucial lesson that can benefit them for a lifetime. By respecting habitats and learning about animal behaviors, they can share outdoor spaces with wild animals while making responsible decisions for both themselves and the animals.

To become lifelong outdoorsmen, it is important for children to learn how to identify hazards, such as large deadfalls overhead, while setting up camp or hiking. Staying alert and aware is a valuable skill both in the outdoors and back at home!

One effective way to keep kids safe outdoors is to use the buddy system, following the rule of three. This rule allows for one person to seek help without leaving another person alone in case of an accident when venturing farther away.

By acquiring these skills, kids can learn about responsibility and decision-making, empowering them to explore and enjoy the great outdoors safely and confidently.

Teaching Your Kids To Respect Nature

Teaching kids to respect nature is essential for fostering a lifelong appreciation and care for the environment.

One of the most important principles to introduce to children is Leave No Trace, which emphasizes the importance of leaving natural areas the way they were found, without leaving behind any trash or causing any damage.

By following this principle, kids learn to take responsibility for their impact on the environment and develop a sense of ownership and respect for natural spaces.

Additionally, teaching kids about preservation and the importance of protecting natural habitats and wildlife is crucial for creating a generation that values and cares for the environment.

By instilling these values in children, we can help ensure a sustainable and healthy planet for future generations to come.

The post Fun Ways To Get Kids Outside and Learning About Nature appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Many of us have also found it increasingly necessary to promote our self-reliance wherever possible in an unpredictable world. Growing or hunting your own food is a hobby and skill with real advantages for your food security, health, the environment, and more.

There are many benefits to adding game meat and homegrown produce to your diet. When you know exactly where your food comes from, you are taking control of your health. It’s more sustainable than store-bought food. You’re also increasing your self-reliance by putting your own food on the table.

Better Nutrition and Overall Health

Wild game, fish, and homegrown produce can be much better for your health than store-bought food. Most meat in the supermarket has been pumped with antibiotics and hormones. Farmed fish have been found to be full of microplastics. Vegetables may have been sprayed with all sorts of pesticides that are harmful.

You can avoid all of these health risks with hunting, fishing and gardening. There are added benefits to these activities, as well, such as exercise and better mood.

Health Benefits of Hunting and Fishing

Fishing is a great stress reliever. While it may not be the most physically active outdoors hobby, it still provides numerous benefits to the mind and body. Time spent in nature is a natural antidepressant and has been found to help fight disease.

Hunting increases your stamina, strength and mental focus. It can require plenty of time walking and carrying equipment and game through the woods, which is good exercise. The requirement of being still for long periods of time and quieting the mind is also a great contributor to a mindful lifestyle.

Health Benefits of Home Gardening

I find it incredibly grounding to get my hands in some soil. It’s mindful, intentional and soothing. Gardening has a lot of mental health benefits. It is time that you can take out of your day to just be with the earth. You’ll find that it relieves stress and brings you back to your center.

Gardening is an easy, and more inexpensive, way to make sure that the produce you consume is organic. You will know exactly what you’ve used in your own garden! This way you can avoid unnamed chemical residues on your food.

Living More Sustainably

Sustainability means to use resources without depleting them. Some of the biggest environmental concerns in our society are related to our food supplies. You can take action to create a more sustainable world by changing where your food comes from.

By growing some of your produce at home, you’re bypassing the ecological issues of the factory farm industry. Most large-scale farms in the United States use an approach called monocropping. This means to repeatedly plant a single crop, instead of diversifying the fields. Monocropping has negative consequences and degrades the health of soil. These crops are then at a greater health risk, requiring more toxic pesticides that harm pollinators (and humans).

Instead of buying cuts of meat wrapped in single-use plastic from the grocery store, hunting or fishing for your own is more sustainable. Factory meat farming produces waste, uses a lot of water, creates emissions, and doesn’t focus on the well-being of the animals. Hunting and fishing for your own meat solves all of those problems. It offers a greater respect to the animals we rely on for nourishment.

Helping Wildlife Conservation

A healthy ecosystem has a balance of different species, as well as a balance between predators and prey. When there is a balance of animal species, the entire system is able to work the way it should. Wildlife conservation requires maintaining the balance of all living things, from plant to insect to animal, so that they all may thrive.

Hunters contribute to conservation programs through the fees from their licenses. This money will go to support rewilding efforts and wildlife maintenance. Ethical hunting is necessary to keep wildlife populations healthy. Many hunter-backed wild game organizations have helped restore ecosystems and wildlife numbers through conservation programs.

Fishermen have a code of conduct to maintain healthy fisheries. By fishing in-season, only taking what you will eat, purchasing a license, and advocating for waterways, fishermen can help with conservation.

Your home garden can benefit wildlife by providing habitat and resources. Flowering plants will attract and help pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Plants can also provide cover and places for small animals to raise their young.

Improving Self-Reliance

We have all seen the shelves at our local supermarkets become barren because of supply and demand issues since the pandemic. You can remove the supply chain’s impact on you by providing your own food. Adding wild game and homegrown produce to your routine increases your self-reliance and stability.

You will also save money in the long-run. Of course there will be start-up costs, but after the initial investment, you can save a lot of money per year. This is especially true with game such as deer, where bringing home an entire animal will provide quite a bit of food and resources. Similarly, a garden will be renewable year after year and provide you with plentiful food and seeds. None of this requires a costly trip to the grocery store!

How to Start Growing Food at Home

With a bit of planning, some dedication, and a bit of time, you can start growing your own food from your home. Here’s some tips to get you started.

• Start small. You don’t need to be growing 100% of your produce from home right away, but you can work up to that! Building slowly will allow you to figure out how much time you want to put into it without any overwhelm.
• Make a plan. Decide what you want to grow and research when it should be started. Each climate area will have different growing requirements. If you don’t have a suitable plot of land, you can also use a raised bed or even planters. Choose a space that receives about six hours of sunlight per day.
• Get your supplies. You can pick up everything you need at a hardware or home improvement store. For a small vegetable garden, you’ll want a few tools: gardening gloves, a trowel for digging, a rake for preparing beds, good soil, and a watering system such as a handheld can or sprinklers. Finally, you’ll need seeds!

How to Start Fishing

The first thing you need to do to get started fishing is to pick up a license and figure out where you can fish in your area.

Once you figure out where you want to fish, you just need to get your starting equipment. This will consist of only a few things, such as a fishing rod and reel, fishing line, and lures.

You can also go on a guided fishing trip in many places and receive professional instruction.

How to Start Hunting Wild Game

A sporting good store can get you set up with the supplies you need to get started hunting. Most importantly, you want to be educated on safety and ethics when you first start hunting. Start by taking a hunter education course.

Make sure you read up, and possibly seek out a mentor. Join a local hunter’s club or ask friends to bring you along on their trips. Experienced hunters will have plenty of knowledge to pass onto you to make you a more skillful hunter. You can make hunting a family-friendly activity, as well, by bringing the kids along and teaching them everything they need to know. This way, the whole family can hunt together.

The post The Unexpected Benefits of Supplementing Your Diet With Game Meat and Homegrown Foods appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Certain hobbies build real-world skills, encourage physical fitness, and offer the sense of being part of a bigger movement. When an activity impacts our health, our communities become resilient alongside our own journeys. Outdoor recreation is a great area to search for our ideal hobby. Let’s take a look at a few options.

Hiking and Camping

Hiking and camping build self-reliance and confidence by challenging ourselves to learn multiple skills. Learning to plan ahead, start a fire, pitch a tent, and choose a camping site are all micro-challenges that add up.

These small challenges keep us engaged and confident in our skills as we progress.

For those who don’t know where to start, getting your feet wet with a car camping experience while hiking around your site is a great way to begin. Then, when you feel like you’re ready for the next step, tent camping and finally backpacking or trekking are hobbies that connect us to nature while challenging our independence.

Woodworking

A craftsperson who practices woodworking, leather crafts, or canvas is involved in their work. The struggles of daily life seem to slip away. The flow state, a psychological state of mind, is experienced when someone is focused on something. This state inspires feelings of happiness and contentment.

While a beginner woodworker might feel challenging at first, that sensation will soon give way to satisfaction and pride. Both of these contribute to high self-esteem.

Drawing or Painting

Many famous artists have been quoted saying something like, “The real value in having made something is not in the product but in the process.” Activities like drawing and painting can be a personal journey. This means self-esteem is found from within instead of outside ourselves.

Experiencing this kind of independence can be fulfilling without needing a specific result. Just the satisfaction that comes from completing a canvas or new page is enough to feel accomplished.

Gardening

Inside a single green pepper are the seeds to sow hundreds more. The work that gardeners put into their hobby is returned in spades. Gardening is truly a life-enriching hobby.

From the time spent outside, the meals you’ll make, and the food you’ll share with your neighbors, gardening provides much more than fruits and veggies. Just getting started with gardening can seem scary, but starting small with simple veggies or could turn into a lifelong love for soil and seeds.

Fishing

Fishing is so relaxing and rejuvenating that organizations like Project Healing Waters use fly fishing as a form of therapy. The sound of water and fresh air allow the mind to take a break from the stressors of everyday life.

While you don’t need to jump right in with a club, overlooking the benefits of fishing with a group means you could miss out on a welcoming and supportive community.

Many areas have free fishing programs that are the perfect place to start. Searching close to home for fishing classes, facebook groups, or even a patient friend will make your first fishing experiences memorable.

Beginners make the mistake of jumping in without knowing good techniques and learn to dislike fishing. Avoiding this by finding a seasoned and patient mentor helps prevent disappointing first trips and negative experiences.

Hunting

The rise in local food movements has caused a surge in hunting interest. For those who didn’t start hunting as a kid, the learning curve can seem overwhelming.

Luckily, learning to hunt as an adult and also providing new opportunities for kids to learn alongside you are plentiful. Contacting local fishing and hunting agencies or reaching out to local clubs will help you find a mentor. Also, youth hunting seasons are offered by most states and are widely-available. There are options even if a parent or guardian has never been hunting before. The fishing and hunting community is always welcoming to new members

Cooking

Food is medicine, and cooking is the path towards learning how to take care of our physical health. From sourcing ingredients, preparing different dishes, and choosing flavors based on what we want, cooking is one of the best methods towards fostering our independence.

The endless styles of food and ways to get the ingredients make this hobby available to everyone. One of the best ways to learn is to ask a chef friend if you can join them in creating a dish. After a few experiences, the process will become familiar enough to follow most recipes.

If you don’t have a mentor, starting with frying an egg will help build a good foundation.

Solo Travel

Solo traveling is often overlooked when we think about ways to raise our confidence and self-esteem. After all, it may seem scary to be alone.

This is an opportunity to be self-reliant and learn to trust ourselves. When we trust that our bodies and minds can work together to find peace, that sense of ability transfers into other areas of our life.

Also, some of the best experiences come from listening to our intuition and following the paths that feel right. Solo travel helps us hone that skill as we learn to listen to our instincts.

Volunteering

Finally, helping others discover or accomplish their needs is a surefire path to better understanding ourselves. When we help someone, we gain the pride and happiness that comes from seeing someone else smile. This has large impacts on our health.

If you do one or all of these different hobbies, volunteering your time to help someone at the start of their journey can be the perfect way to give back.

When we increase our sense of self-esteem through hobbies that build confidence and independence, we not only help ourselves but encourage everyone around us. These are things worth pursuing.

The post Hobbies and Activities That Promote Confidence and Independence appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Throughout this process, it has become strikingly clear that without challenge, you can never find your true sense of purpose. Challenge quickly and effectively brings self-discovery and growth to the surface, which is the main driver of discovering purpose.

Accepting challenges and trying new things has been researched in depth. Experts agree that challenging yourself is one of the best ways to cultivate pure joy and increase your happiness. These challenges form a lifestyle that everyone you know is seeking out, whether they say it or not.

The challenges we offer up in this article are helpful for discovering purpose and cultivating happiness every day. They push you to:

• Build resilience
• Work together with others
• Feel accomplishment
• Acquire new and practical skills

Ways to Push Yourself Personally

There are countless ways to push yourself in your personal life to help give you a sense of purpose. These are only a few fantastic and easy places to start.

From there, plenty of other challenges will arise, and you’ll already have the resilience and strength to take those on.

Do a Digital Detox

Today it’s almost impossible to catch a deep breath away from some kind of screen or other technology. Technology advancements are massively helpful to our world, but sometimes we must get away from it all. Research shows that our connection to our screens actually devalues the way we see our real lives.

The thing is, we were never designed to be connected to screens. Social media and other forms of mindless scrolling can be detrimental to us rather than productive. Too much exposure to screens ruins your sleep quality, damages your self-image, and can skew your work-life balance in the wrong way.

This is where a digital detox can come into play, giving you time to relax and regain your perspective.

A digital detox is about setting aside the time to reduce your screen use, possibly even getting rid of it entirely. A short time away from your screens can benefit you in surprising ways, such as:

• Improving mental and physical health
• Improving sleep quality
• Decreasing stress
• Increasing connection to others

Globally, people spend an average of seven hours in front of a screen every day, which is only increasing. A digital detox provides you with the time to try new hobbies that may have been swallowed up by mindless scrolling.

Study a Second Language

When I started learning Greek at 29 years old, I believed I could never fully master it. Learning a new language can feel like an utterly unreachable goal, which is why it’s such an extraordinary challenge to put on your list.

It was only with time, commitment, and constant repetition that I started to believe it was possible and not seem like such a foreigner in a Greek village.

It’s obvious how learning a second language can allow you to travel, connect to other cultures, and meet new people. What goes unnoticed is how learning a second language improves memory, and problem-solving skills, boosts concentration, increases listening skills, and improves brain health.

This challenge can be hard, but it also is rewarding. Allow yourself to start slowly with an app like Duolingo or Babbel to help get those reminders to practice bit by bit every day. More importantly, plan a trip to get yourself excited about the opportunity to try out the new language!

Learn a New Outdoor Hobby

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the world took to the outdoors. Everyone was trapped inside and needed a space to get out and challenge themselves. Outdoor recreation has a wealth of benefits, including increased physical and mental health, decreased stress, and an overall improvement in general mood.

As a beginner, outdoor hobbies like backpacking, hunting, or rock climbing can be intimidating. Trying these activities with a partner is one of the best ways to challenge yourself while staying safe. A partnership lets you push the other while they push you through the tough challenges that many people face in the outdoors.

There’s something for everyone in the outdoors. You can start by learning simple skills like basic rock climbing, stalking a deer, or even just going for a walk. The Japanese practice of forest bathing took off as one of the best things to do to improve mental health.

One of the things I like the most about discovering challenges in the outdoors is being able to bring others along, including kids. Teaching kids to find challenges in the outdoors creates growth unparalleled by everyday life.

Volunteer in Your Community

Personally, volunteering in my community is a huge challenge. Too many questions pop up, like, where do I start volunteering? How can I be helpful in my community? How do I find the time to volunteer?

The value of volunteering and helping others is something that any volunteer can attest to. There are dramatic increases in discovering your purpose when helping others. New perspectives become clearer each time you help another person out. Volunteering has even been found to decrease anxiety, depression, and levels of anger.

Starting can be easy if you want it to be. A quick Google search will bring back hundreds of local areas looking for volunteers. Find a volunteer opportunity that excites you and draws on your specific passions and skill sets. Some quick ideas for volunteering include:

• Dog shelters
• Retirement homes
• Soup kitchens
• Community development
• Local youth centers

Teach What You Know

If you’ve been through the process of learning a skill to the point of mastery, you may understand the impact that a good teacher can have on your growth in that area. A teacher that can be understanding, encouraging, and push you to your limits is hard to find.

When you take on the challenge of teaching someone, you take on the challenge of learning how to balance those three skills.

Children are the best place to start when teaching a skill. They’re forgiving, always excited to learn something new, and never shy about trying it out. Whether or not you have kids, you can always find programs like Big Brother or Big Sister that give you an excellent opportunity to take a kid out on their first fishing trip or start learning a new hobby.

There’s something different about teaching that brings in some of the best rewards you can imagine. Who knows, it may lead you directly to your unknown purpose in life.

Ways to Push Yourself Professionally

Take your challenges into the work sphere to grow in personal and professional ways. These challenges are designed to help you move up the ladder, try out new positions, or even just make your work day more exciting.

Take a Professional Development Course

Continued learning after working the same job for a while can refresh your professional life in a way few things can. Professional development courses are one of those things that employers often look at when thinking about promotions or shifting someone to a new position.

If you’re hoping to advance your career, this is a great place to start.

A new skill that can be applied to your daily work can bring creative solutions to problems that you’re working on. A simple day-long course can help you look at your work from a new angle and increase your productivity or enjoyment of the work you do.

Applying new education or training to an old job can significantly enhance how satisfied you are professionally.

Ask for More Responsibility

While showing up to work and getting home fast is tempting, challenging yourself at work will let you find joy in what you do. One of the best ways to do this is to ask for more responsibility.

More responsibility doesn’t always mean more work. It can be a shift to leadership roles rather than being a smaller cog in the machine.

Taking on more responsibility at work can help advance your career. It’s a great chance to display, or develop, your leadership skills and show improved performance to management.

Start by engaging in extracurriculars at the office. A softball team is a great place to network and show your coworkers that you want to be a part of the team. From here, you can talk more with your boss about ways to have more responsibility.

This will also give you insight into the parts of your coworkers’ jobs they struggle with. It may be that you can work together to tackle functions of the job that you both enjoy, rather than each struggling with different tasks.

When your supervisors see that you’re coming up with creative ways to solve work issues, you’ll be the first in line for an upcoming promotion.

Become a Mentor

Being a mentor at work is like being a teacher in your personal life. The great thing here is work and personal life isn’t always that different. Work still requires a lot of the same skills that even something like hunting does.

Think about it. If you can teach someone to wait patiently in a blind as a deer moves slowly in, you can transfer those skills to teach a coworker how to take their time and be deliberate with the work that they’re doing.

These two areas of life are only different because we push them apart. Being a mentor will challenge you to grow in all of them.

Not only can this challenge you and help you grow professionally, but it will show how willing you are to lead others in your job.

It demonstrates your ability to coach others through tasks, listen to your coworkers, and solve problems creatively. These are all things that any boss wants to see from an employee looking for a promotion or a raise.

The post How Challenging Yourself at Work and Leisure Can Give You a Sense of Purpose appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

High-tech equipment doesn’t need to be plugged into the wall anymore, and you won’t have to run a 100-foot extension cord into your backyard just to have fun. Tech can actually get you outside and engage with the natural world in surprisingly exciting ways.

Here’s a list of hobbies that you may find exciting and rewarding if tech is your thing. Some activities might surprise you.

Photography and Film

Often mistaken as something you need to start young, photography and film are two fantastic places to start off if you want to try something new.

There’s a lot of art in photos and videos, but the technical aspects of the hobby can get completely lost. Taking high-quality pictures or creating a well-crafted film takes as much know-how of tech as it does creativity.

Combining artistic hobbies like photography and film with technology requires a sharp eye and a deep understanding of the different pieces that all play a part. The gear alone requires a high level of technological skill.

There are hundreds of different cameras on the market, each designed for a specific task. Then you need to master a particular set of lighting and editing software.

Drone Flying

Drones have become huge in the years since their development. Piloting a drone is bringing all the skills from video gaming into the real world, plus a new variety of gadgets to be played.

Drone pilots can pursue various hobbies that expand a tech enthusiast’s experience. You can use drones for taking unbelievable photographs, but you can also customize drones to race or even map an area.

Hunting

Here’s one that might come as a surprise, especially if you spend most of your time behind a computer screen. Modern day hunting incorporates a huge amount of tech into the sport, making it one of the best new hobbies for tech lovers.

The weapons, tactics, locations, gear, and final shot must be tuned in with such precision that many people never succeed without a devout work ethic.

Long range shooting brings together a mix of technical skills that will require refinement and perfection of your rifle. On the other hand, stalking deer is a more creative skill that hunting requires you to perfect. You can combine hunting with techy pursuits like trail cam monitoring, mapping, and orienteering to get the best results.

Off-road Driving

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, utility-task vehicles (UTVs), and side-by-sides allow your technical side to flourish and help you find new challenges.

These machines require skill to drive, and it’s even more exciting in real life than it is in first person viewer mode on a video game. You’ll develop new technical skills as you learn to operate and maintain off-road vehicles.

Aside from the maintenance, there are all kinds of tech gadgets to add to your OHV that personalize the vehicle and enhance the fun.

Geocaching

Imagine a massive treasure hunt spread across the outdoors, ending with a puzzle that will demand technical thinking and skills to solve. Geocaching, and gadget geocaching, is a favorite amongst tech lovers who want to get outside.

Geocachers worldwide have hidden small log books throughout cities and nature alike, all for recreation’s sake. There are sites to find the latitude and longitude for certain caches, and it’s up to you to discover them. Many users will utilize GPS devices, and some old schoolers will still look at maps and compasses.

The newest movement in gadget geocaching is to end with a puzzle representing more of an escape room situation. To get to the log book, prize, or whatever it may be, you must crack a code or hack into the system.

Recreational Shooting

Shooting sports can seem the opposite of a tech-related hobby, but it isn’t all about pointing, shooting, and blowing stuff up. Although that’s a part of it, a huge amount of fine technical skill is required to actually hit what you’re aiming for, rather than blasting rounds into the hillside.

A basic understanding of hunting and shooting supplies is the perfect place to start. Then comes the combination of all these tools to perfect your shot. It’s as precise as writing code and as exciting as gaming ever has been.

Electronic Music

If you want to stay inside while exploring a new hobby, electronic music is one of the best to get after. This allows you to mix new tracks while using tech programs to edit and distort the sounds precisely what you want them to be.

The beauty of making electronic music is taking music that you already love and making it your own. With the right gear and software, any computer can turn into an electronic mixer that is great for someone looking for a new hobby.

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is a perfect mix of mental and physical challenges that many people overlook as a hobby. All forms of climbing, sport, bouldering, top rope, or traditional climbing provide their challenging style, which is why it’s a perfect hobby to try out. You can start to explore the specific gear you need and how to use it properly.

While there aren’t a lot of techs involved, climbing is more about technical skills than it is about being incredibly strong.

Throughout my years of climbing, I’ve always been the one who thinks a route through and looks at it as a puzzle that gets to the top. The muscled-out guy from the gym who tries to pull their way to the top ends up back on the ground more often than not.

Astronomy

If all of these hobbies feel too close to home, then check out astronomy. This hobby allows tech enthusiasts to discover new worlds and go on a grand adventure right from home. Starting with astronomy is as easy as waiting until nighttime and getting out.

Since our world has succumbed to so much light pollution, the stars are fading further and further into the background. These constellations and different galaxies all have their own stories woven into several human cultures, and looking at them is looking straight into these histories.

Discovering these stars requires equipment that can bring distant galaxies into eyesight, which means a massive amount of power. Lasers that hit the moon and telescopes that bring galaxies into view are only the start.

The post Unexpected Hobbies for Tech Enthusiasts to Get Into appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Living sustainably and communally is increasingly necessary. Focusing on self-reliance with a collaborative approach makes a strong community. Offering your skills, supporting local businesses, and giving back to your neighbors are a few ways to support the self-sufficiency of your community.

Using Your Skills to Support Your Community

We become stronger through independence. This is relevant on a communal scale, too. The less we need to rely on the larger society, the more sustainable we will be.

Self-sufficient communities work because everyone contributes their unique skill sets. No matter what your skills are, there is something that you can contribute to the betterment of your community.

Gardening and Landscaping

While local farms are extremely important, you don’t have to have acres of agricultural land. There are plenty of ways anyone can use gardening to promote self-reliance.

• Grow your food. Even a small home garden can be a communal contribution. Trade produce and seeds with your neighbors to diversify your food supply.
• Start, or help out with, a community garden. Community gardens are educational, put food on the table, and can even support local organizations. A town I used to live in had a community garden at our library. The food was free for anyone who needed it.
• Cater your landscaping to your climate and local ecosystem. A green lawn uses a lot of water and creates fertilizer runoff, polluting watersheds. It also doesn’t provide much of a habitat for wildlife. Native species benefit birds and pollinators and create a healthy environment.

Hunting and Fishing

Hunters know our responsibility for a sustainable future. A huge part of subsistence living relies on the land and what nature provides for us. Hunting and fishing can provide food, clothing, and other items we need. You can use these skills and resources to give back to your community.

• Consider donating game meat to local food banks, homeless shelters, or even your neighbors. First, you’ll want to confirm whether or not there are restrictions on this practice from your local game and fish agency or health department. Where possible, this is the best model for a self-sufficient community: everyone pitching in what they can provide, but others may not have.
• Your skills and knowledge as a hunter or fisherman are valuable. You might have neighbors who have always wanted to learn how to hunt or fish for their food but don’t know where to start. By passing this along to others, especially the younger generations, we are investing in the future of our entire community.

Buying Local

The convenience of purchasing everything from one big box store or online seller has made it difficult for smaller businesses to thrive. Combat this by shopping small.

• Farmer’s markets are my favorite place to buy fresh produce, dairy and meat. This is a fantastic way to connect with the people that grow or raise your food!
• Ditch the consumer giants as much as you can and patronize businesses in your neighborhood. I even shop at family-owned markets instead of big grocery stores.
• Stop at yard sales. My mom furnished almost her entire house through yard sales! I’ve found great things for cheap, too. The best thing is that your money either goes straight to your neighbors, or in some cases, you can support churches and schools.
• Eating out or grabbing coffee? Try somewhere that isn’t a chain. Chances are, the quality is better, and you’re contributing to the neighborhood’s success.

Volunteering and Teaching

Do you have skills that you can offer as a volunteer? Maybe you have extra resources you don’t need that someone else can benefit from? Even just a helping hand and some of your time can make a big difference.

• Your time can be put to use for a good cause. Volunteering for something you care about will also help others and make you feel great.
• Donate your extra clothing, food, furniture, books, or anything else taking up space in your home. Look into charity drives and see what you can give.
• If you have a specific skill that you can teach, consider offering community education classes. This could be something like computer skills, resume writing, or math tutoring. If you’re an artist, you could offer a beginner’s course on your medium. If you’re great in the kitchen, you can teach a cooking class. There are plenty of possibilities.

Getting Involved

Good values and compassion will resonate through a community when people get involved. Your impact is only limited by how much you give back.

• Non-profits and charities are always in need of help. Whether that’s a food bank, an animal shelter, or anything else – your effort and dedication are incredibly valuable.
• If you are a natural leader, consider running for a local public office position. You could help the voices of your community be heard on a larger scale.
• Consider learning about and finding ways to support the environment on a local scale. Practicing sustainability and conservation is essential for the success and well-being of future generations.
• What do you care about? Activism and advocacy are where we can make the changes necessary for the future we believe in. Find what resonates with you and follow through.

The post Creative Ways You Can Support the Self-sufficiency of Your Community appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

• Fresh air and sunlight promote an overall sense of well-being.
• Getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern society provides mental health benefits, lowers stress, and can combat anxiety and depression.
• It’s educational. There is plenty to learn about and from the natural world, whether that’s a new skill or scientific knowledge.
• You’ll find a strong sense of community – I’ve met all my closest friends through outdoor activities.

Getting outdoors may seem a bit daunting. I was intimidated when I was first starting, too. However, nature is accessible to everyone no matter where you are! There are plenty of easy and fun ways to incorporate nature into your life at any experience level.

Gardening or Landscaping

You can bring nature to your home by taking up gardening or landscaping. Caring for plants is a mindful and rewarding routine. You’ll also benefit the ecosystem.

• Look into planting native species in your yard. Landscaping with these species creates a positive ripple effect in the ecosystem, as they support pollinators, wildlife, and other plants. They will also be hardier, resisting disease and requiring fewer resources to grow.
• Starting a garden can provide food for you and your family, whether this is greens, vegetables, or herbs. Research what grows best in your climate and when to plant each seed. Some plants are easier than others to grow successfully, but with a bit of time and dedication, anybody can have their fresh produce.
• Don’t have space for a garden outside? I always keep house plants when I’m living in an apartment. There are plenty of low-maintenance beginner plants. I’ve even grown an entire herb garden inside! You can purchase complete indoor growing kits.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is something enjoyable you can add to your daily routine. It allows you to tune into nature anywhere you go. Birds remind us that nature and wildlife still exist around us, even in the city’s densest areas. They can teach us to slow down and appreciate small things in life.

Here are a few easy steps to get started birdwatching.

• Pick up some binoculars. You don’t have to have anything expensive or complicated. When I first got into birdwatching, I used a pair of binoculars found at a yard sale for a few dollars.
• Get an identification guide. I recommend the Sibley guides, as they’re easy to use and informative. Most will be organized by color and type, making them user-friendly.
• Go on a walk! Explore trails, parks, rivers, or marinas; these are all birding hotspots.
• Setting up a bird feeder can attract a diverse range of birds to your home.

Identifying Wild Plants

Seeking out wildflowers is one of my favorite ways to ring in the springtime. Learning to identify wild plants is not only fun, but it’s also a pretty practical skill to have. You may be surprised to know there are many useful plants growing wild where you live – some are even edible.

• The easiest way to learn plant identification is by using a field guide. Field guides can be broad or focus on a specific type of plant.
• See a plant on a hike that you don’t recognize? Take a picture of it and look it up when you get home. Next time you see it, you’ll know what it is!
• Go on a naturalist walk. These programs may be put together by parks or environmental organizations. A naturalist guide will point out plants on an easy hike and answer any questions you might have about what grows in your area.

Hiking and Camping

There are a lot of health benefits from hiking and camping. Getting out into the woods has always been my meditation. It allows me to work out my thoughts in a calm setting. It’s great for just being present.

Hiking and camping also promote physical health. I love a good hike to get in my exercise and build strength and endurance.

Here’s how to get started.

• Outdoor websites, forums, or guidebooks will all be able to direct you where to go. Some hiking websites will list trails by difficulty or mileage so you can find something to fit your skills.
• Even if you are in the city, most urban areas will have some green space! Look up your local parks and see what your city has to offer. Nature might be easier to access than you think.
• You don’t need elaborate or expensive gear to start. You can pick up affordable camping equipment in any store with an outdoors section. If you’re open to buying used to stay sustainable and low-cost, check online marketplaces or second-hand stores.

Fishing or Hunting

Both hunting and fishing will afford you a greater respect for the natural world. This is an ancestral activity that will get you closer to both your roots and the earth. It’s something that has been passed down for generations.

Fishing or hunting might seem a bit more complicated to get into than some other hobbies on this list. Here are some pointers to help you get started.

Getting Started Fishing

It’s actually relatively simple to get started fishing.

• You need a few pieces of equipment to get started: a rod, a reel, a fishing line, and lures. These are all easily purchased in many places.
• Make sure you have a fishing license. This is your annual permit to fish in public waterways. It can be purchased at outdoor retailers or possibly through your city itself.
• Get out there! Fishing is good for you. It is a peaceful and meditative hobby that can even burn a few calories. Plus, fish is a food that is nutritional and high in protein.

Getting Started Hunting

You will learn a lot about conservation through hunting. Hunters adhere to a set of responsibilities and ethics for the sake of wildlife, the forest, and hunter safety.

• Read up and follow the laws in your state. This includes getting a license and following age requirements if you’re bringing the kiddos along.
• Make sure you’re educated on what wildlife you can hunt in your chosen location. Deer are the most popular animal to hunt in the United States. Fowl, rabbits, and squirrels are some other frequently hunted species.
• Start getting your equipment. What you need may vary depending on whether you want to use a firearm or a bow, the range at which you’ll be from your target and the type of wildlife you’re hunting.
• It’s easiest to start out using a rifle. Hunting bows are also quite popular but require a close range to the target and a different skill set.

Community Conservation Projects

Our wild spaces need advocates and people looking out for them. See how you can get involved in your community by caring for your local environment.

• Pick up garbage and join in on cleanups. Your community may have clean up days where groups of people will get together to clear trash from trails, parks, or roads.
• Environmental non-profits near you may have restoration projects you can volunteer for. Restoring habitat is labor intensive, and each pair of hands (or gardening gloves!) helps out. I’ve pulled invasive plants, cleaned up rivers, and planted trees in my area.
• Public land requires maintenance to keep its trails accessible and open. Help keep your favorite trails in good shape by joining a trail crew.

The post Fun Activities That Can Help You Learn About and Engage with the Environment appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Like the comedian Jim Gaffigan said, “You know what tastes good on fish? Anything that covers the taste of fish.”

Many fishermen love to harvest and eat fish regularly, which is fine, but I don’t. I like to catch fish and then let them go.

Early Catch and Release Fishing

Catch and release ethos have been around for a long time. The first written record appeared in 1496 by a nun named Dame Juliana Berners. She wrote a book called A Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle.

First, let me say that I wish that spelling of fish would have stuck.

In her book, she stated, “Nor should a man ever carry his amusement to excess, and catch too much at one time; this is to destroy his future pleasure and to interfere with that of his neighbours.”  

Early 1900’s North American proponents including Thaddeus Norris and William Henry pushed the philosophy of catch and release to a new generation of anglers. Lee Wulff was probably the most famous of these early evangelists.

In 1939 he inspired the movement by saying, “Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once,” and “The fish you release is your gift to another angler, and remember, it may have been someone’s similar gift to you.” 

The movement continued to grow in strength. In the 1950s, catch and release were first codified by the state of Michigan. They created “no-kill zones” to reduce the cost of restocking lakes. The movement caught on, and it has become a management tool used by fish and game managers across the US.

More than a management tool, catch and release methods became a way of life for many fishermen. This new breed of fisherman now goes out to the stream without any intention of bringing any fish home for supper. 

Opposition to Catch and Release Fishing

There have been other voices that disagree that catch and release fishing is a wholesome activity. PETA is probably one of the strongest opponents of catch and release.

To be fair, they are against all forms of fishing, but it is not just PETA who is against it. Several countries in Europe have made it illegal, stating that it is against their animal cruelty laws. You can still catch and harvest fish within the legal limit, but you can’t throw them back.  

Is it Cruel to Catch and Release Fish?

To be cruel, you have to willfully cause pain and suffering to the animal. Despite what PETA and other organizations would have you believe, there is no evidence that fishing causes pain.

Quantifying pain is difficult even in humans. Pain is generally described and then rated on a scale of 1 to 10. To have pain, there needs to be pain receptors and then a psychological response to that pain. As difficult as it is for humans to validate pain, it is almost impossible to say if fish feel pain or not.  

While it is true that fish have been found to have nociceptors, or receptors responsible for pain, those found in the fish are mainly responsible for reflex action. Imagine hearing a loud noise and jumping back; that is a reflex action but you experience no actual pain.  

Here is a great research article that examines the belief that fish may feel pain and why that is likely not true:

Fish do not feel pain and its implications for understanding phenomenal consciousness

Do Fish Remember Being Caught

To this I have no scientific proof, just anecdotal evidence.

One day I was fishing in the beautiful, deep, and clear pool that sits below Power House rapid on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. As I delicately placed my fly on the water, I could see a fish rising from the pool’s depths, heading straight at my fly.

I got ready to set the hook in anxious anticipation, but just as the fish got close, it stopped, looked at me, laughed in my face then swam back to the bottom of the pool. Probably to tell his fish buddies about the idiot on dry land trying in vain to catch fish.

From my experience, when an area is heavily fished, the fish become harder to catch. But those fish that see little pressure are easier to catch. 

Do fish remember being caught? In my experience, it seems that they do, but not so much so that it keeps them from feeding and leading a healthy life.

My Introduction to Fishing

My dad took me fishing when I was young, just like his dad took him. He was not a good fisherman. In fact, he used to say, “If you caught fish, it would be called catching.”   

My dad fished quite a bit and did little catching, but my dad didn’t seem to care. He always just seemed to be having a great time being in the woods and hanging out with his son. My dad taught me that enjoyment didn’t necessarily come from the result. He taught me to enjoy the process.

My next fishing mentor was a man by the name of Dennis Jesse. He was tall and lanky with a tanned leather face from spending most of his life outside. Dennis spent his winters as a carpenter in Jackson Hole and his summers guiding whitewater rivers in Idaho. He was also a lifelong fly fisherman and, unlike my dad, knew how to catch fish.   

We worked together as rafting guides on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho. Dennis taught me how to read water, cast, pick the right fly and drift a dry fly over where the fish were holding. Everything that I know about catching fish is because of Dennis. 

However, the most important thing he taught me was how to release fish properly, causing the least amount of harm possible. Indeed, since we would do trips down the same river all summer long, the gift we were giving was hopefully to ourselves.

Do Fish Die After Being Released

The mortality rate of caught and released fish is an important detail to think about. In a review of catch and release literature done by Aaron Bartholomew and James A. Bohnsack, it was noted that the mean mortality was 19%. This is the number commonly thrown around by groups that oppose catch and release fishing.

As most things are, the issue is more nuanced than just a single number. That number includes a lot of different fish species in both fresh and saltwater. Plus, there were no mitigation efforts employed. 

There is a right and wrong way to handle caught fish if you expect to let them go and survive. In the trout population, it has been shown that the mortality rate can be reduced to 1% to 2% with proper handling and release techniques. This is a much more acceptable number. 

How to Release Fish Properly

These are the techniques that Dennis taught me all those years ago on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and have been shown to work.

1. Don’t fight fish to exhaustion.  

2. Minimize the amount of time that the fish is out of the water.

3. Use a device to unhook the fish to minimize or eliminate touching it. I have used and have had good results with the Ketchum Release, but homemade devices can also work.

4. Cut the line of a gut hooked fish.

5. Use single barbless hooks.

6. Use artificial lures and flies.

Conclusion 

The reason we practice catch and release is a complicated amalgamation of cultural heritage, social norms, and traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. This is a tradition that I am excited to pass on to my children, just as my dad taught me.  

However, all of this is too hard to explain in a casual conversation, so when people ask, I usually just answer that I love to catch fish but I hate the way they taste.

Related: Can You Eat Koi Fish?

The post Why Do Fishermen Let Fish Go? (Angler’s Take on Catch & Release) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

While overfishing has given both commercial and recreational fishing a bad name, recent conservation efforts by activists, government organizations, and anglers have made great strides in increasing the benefits of fishing on the environment.

Why Fishing Is Good for the Environment

Fishermen are passionate about fish.

Fishermen fuel activism and government regulation, fund conservation efforts, and protect wildlife through responsible fishing practices. Without fishermen, fishery management efforts would not have the resources or manpower needed to protect aquatic environments and the animals that live in them.

What Are the Benefits of Fishing on the Environment?

People who fish are often the first people to notice when there is an environmental problem involving waterways or aquatic species. Fishermen who sound early warnings on developing issues, such as pollution or invasive species, are invaluable resources. No government agency or organization can thoroughly cover every waterway at all times.

Fishermen who observe and record the species they encounter provide valuable insight into the health of waterways and the animals that live in them.

Additionally, concerned anglers push state, local, and federal governments to pursue conservation efforts. This helps motivate increased funding of scientific research of the ecological benefits of recreational fishing.

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What Is Sustainable Fishing?

Sustainable fishing is a collection of commercial fishing best practices to preserve the population of marine species at a level that promotes survival. It is built around fishing techniques that increase the benefits of fishing on the environment and avoid negatively impacting the marine ecosystem.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization provides a code of conduct that outlines sustainable fishing practices.

What Is Recreational Fishing?

Recreational fishing is fishing that is done for pleasure or sport. Some states define it as any fishing that is not commercial, including fishing for food for personal consumption rather than resale. The waters managed for these purposes are known as recreational fisheries.

Recreational fishing is considered more sustainable than commercial fishing because of the type of gear used and the high survival rate of fish released.

Recreational Fisheries Management 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration manage recreational fisheries nationwide with the assistance of eight regional fishery management councils. The councils develop rebuilding and fishery management plans and set annual catch limits.

NOAA manages all marine fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Individual coastal states manage fisheries that are within three miles of their coastlines.

NOAA manages fisheries with several goals in mind:

• Protect, sustain and increase domestic seafood supply
• Protect the health and sustainability of the ecosystem
• Enhance and maintain subsistence and recreational fishing opportunities
• Support social and economic benefits, create jobs, and promote community resilience

NOAA increases the benefits of fishing on the environment by taking steps to ensure that fish species are not overfished. Since the year 2000, their science-based practices have kept overfishing numbers at record lows.

The work of NOAA is governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act and encompasses three pillars:

1. Science: they employ a rigorous, peer-reviewed process
2. Management: they use science to continuously improve fishery management
3. Enforcement: ensuring compliance with the law

This three-tier system makes it possible to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks and stop overfishing when it happens.

How Fishermen Contribute to Conservation

Fishermen have a vested interest in maintaining the health of wildlife populations and the environment. If water pollution or unsustainable fishing practices cause fish to die out, then there is no more fishing.

Because of this, many avid anglers are passionate and knowledgeable when it comes to protecting the environment.

Anglers help with wildlife and fishery management by complying with seasons and keeper limits. This helps prevent over-harvesting, which ensures that fish populations remain stable.

Most states in the United States require fishermen to purchase a fishing license. In most cases, the money from those purchases is used for various conservation programs in the state.

Fishermen spend more than $750 million on fishing licenses every year.

Related: How Much Do Hunters Pay to Hunt?

Fishermen also aid in conservation efforts by following rules and regulations and reporting violations to the NOAA Enforcement Hotline. They also work with conservationists to collect data through tag and release competitions.

Conservation Efforts Supported by Money From Fishing and Boating Licenses

Different states have different conversation programs that improve the benefits of fishing on the environment.

These are some typical examples of the types of programs supported by money from fishing and boating licenses:

• Enhancing water quality
• Maintaining fish habitats
• Educating new fishermen
• Long-term conservation plan

What You Can Do To Support Environmentally Friendly Fishing

There are several steps you can take to ensure your fishing trips are environmentally friendly:

• Purchase a fishing license, even if you are exempt
• Respect and value the aquatic environment and the animals that live in it
• Practice ethical behaviors and teach other people to do the same
• Choose the fish you target with the environment in mind
• Avoid spilling or dumping pollutants, such as gas or oil
• Don’t litter
• Dispose of worn lines, hooks, and leaders in containers and recycle when you can
• Take steps to avoid spreading invasive plants and animals
• Know the regulations and follow them
• Only keep fish you intend to eat
• Practice catch-and-release fishing
• Use techniques that reduce the harm to fish when practicing catch-and-release fishing

Benefits of Recreational Fishing

Recreational fishing has a variety of benefits in addition to the positive impact that recreational fishermen make on the environment:

• Stress Relief
• Health benefits
• Self-fulfillment
• Recreation
• Social bonding
• Healthy food source
• Contributions to local economies
• Excitement

Fishing is a fun activity that you can do with your entire family. It is a great way to connect with nature, get some exercise, and bond with fellow fishing enthusiasts.

Fishing generates millions of dollars in state and local taxes that support thousands of jobs. Wild-caught fish are a healthy food source that many communities worldwide rely on.

Conclusion

Fishing is a valuable social and economic resource and a vital component of the world’s food supply. The efforts made by recreational fishermen to increase the benefits of fishing on the environment pay dividends for everyone.

The post How Is Recreational Fishing Good For The Environment? appeared first on Outdoor Empire.