COMMENTARY BY DR. DAVE SAMUEL
I grew up loving the outdoors. As a grade-schooler, the most exciting times I had were being in the woods. Playing in the woods with my two brothers, or those fantastic Sunday wood walks with my grandfather were things I loved. My brothers did, too.
We biked everywhere (with much more freedom than young kids have today). We hiked everywhere with no fear of seeing new places. At age 12, things got very exciting as my dad took us fishing and hunting. Lots of activities in the outdoors create adventure. Hiking, biking, boating and going to camp are all activities that get kids outside and help shape their lives. My brothers and I did all those things, but in my family the real adventures that shaped my outdoor life were fishing and hunting.
Whether looking for morel mushrooms in the spring, using hellgrammites to catch smallmouth bass in the Cacapon River every August, hunting squirrels in the fall, or bowhunting for deer, the woods and rivers gave me more than I can ever repay. Every August, my family rented a primitive, inexpensive cabin in Largent on the Cacapon River. Dad had a small boat and he drove us upriver to a private farm near Capon Bridge where we’d put in and float the river. Just my two brothers and me. Sleeping bags, a jug of fresh water, matches for a fire and fishing gear. We ate what we caught and we caught some dandy smallmouths. It was rare to see a person. For 12-year-old boys, we’re talking adventure.
The bowhunts were the same. Adventures that created a love of wildlife and the outdoors that persists today. Those times led me to a career in wildlife, for me and my twin brother. They also led to a 50-year second career as an outdoor writer. But those times did much more than that, and the outdoors can do it for everybody.
Life is stressful. This virus we’re living through can create stress, but studies show being outdoors lowers stress. One study showed spending time in the woods lowered heart rates compared to urban dwellers. Wouldn’t you rather have a window that looks out into the woods than one that looks at a parking lot? Wonder why?
Twenty Chinese University students were divided into two groups. Ten camped for two nights in an evergreen forest. Ten spent equal time in a city. Various blood and chemical tests taken thereafter showed reduced stress and less inflammation for the forest group. Another study compared various heart and nervous system parameters for people who looked at pictures of nature compared to people looking at pictures of man-made urban scenes. You guessed it. Nature scenes improved recovery from a stressful event. And a number of studies suggest being outdoors can improve your immune system. The list of benefits goes on and on.
Being outside could improve your vision. A Chinese study showed grade school children who played outside delayed the onset of nearsightedness. Being outdoors improves attention spans of children. It reduces your chance for various diseases. Of course, sunlight is a source of Vitamin D.
I found that being outside, doing things on my own (hunting, fishing, biking, etc.) helped my confidence as a kid. Hunting and fishing also helped teach me responsibility, punctuality and creativity. Those Sunday walks with grandpap, especially in winter with snow on the ground, taught be about wildlife. We’d follow animal tracks forever. If my brothers or I didn’t recognize the track, grandpap did. May not sound exciting you to, but it sure was for us. That triggered me to read and study about those tracks, those animals.
There are lots of educational activities you can do outside and once we get past this crud, you and your family can do them. I suggest the West Virginia Botanic Garden. The garden has lots to offer for families and kids. Lots of educational walks, talks and workshops for adults, as well. Visit their website (wvbg.org) and learn about them. And during this down time, the Botanic Garden is a great place to walk your dog. Cali and I love it, and hundreds of others seem to, as well.
As I look back on my youth, in some respects, I’m thankful there weren’t iPads and cell phones. Had there been, I might have missed out on a great and healthier life in the outdoors.
Dr. Samuel is a retired wildlife professor from West Virginia University. His outdoor columns have appeared, and continue to appear, in Bowhunter magazine and the Whitetail Journal. If you have questions or comments on wildlife and conservation issues, email him at drdave4@comcast.net.
