Share the Love

Every Silent Sports reader shares a deeply personal relationship with Mother Nature. Cyclist or runner, paddler or cross-country skier, car camper or backpacker, we embrace the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of spending time outside. We crave the feeling of running a familiar trail, exploring a new singletrack, or learning to paddle rapids in a canoe. That feeling doesn’t require elite-level exertion; a 30-minute walk in a local nature center can bring that joy.

But how did that connection start? Where did a spark ignite a lifelong pursuit of outdoor adventures? From whom? For most, first memories come from a mentor. Almost everyone can point to a family member, neighbor, teacher, or coach who patiently introduced us to a stand of trees, a pond, a meadow, or the medley of squirming bugs found when turning over a muddy rock.

Most of our adventures start small – sleeping in a tent in our backyard; a day hike at a nearby state park; an afternoon paddling a borrowed boat. First days turn into repeat visits – and later turn into lifelong passions.

Mentors may not receive a formal thank you, but seeing the joy in another person’s eyes after a visit with the outdoor world is a worthy reward. This issue celebrates the way people are introduced to wild places. A collection of stories, profiles, and reflections explores how generations share the love of being outside.

Timothy Bauer celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Door County Land Trust and highlights several examples of families and private individuals who have passed down traditions from one generation to the next and pay it forward without being thanked.

For some families, inspiring the next generation to get outside is only part of the equation. In “Rooted: A Family’s Legacy in Wisconsin’s Northern State Parks,” Seth Taft profiles one family’s decades-long commitment to supporting Amnicon and Pattison State Parks in northwestern Wisconsin.

In “Days of Freedom, Nights of Campfires: A Father’s and Mother’s Legacy,” Randall Schwalbach honors his parents’ deliberate efforts to introduce generations of their family to starting campfires, building cabins, paddling local rivers, and appreciating what Mother Nature gives back to people who appreciate the sun, moon, and stars.

Scott Burditt’s “First Time in the Quetico” tells of taking his daughter on her first canoe expedition. That experience launched a lifelong pursuit of outdoor adventures around the world, shared by father and daughter.

Long-time contributor Mike McFadzen’s “Mel’s Trading Post: a Northwoods Legacy That Keeps Moving Forward” shows how a family’s passion for outdoor recreation turned into a multi-generational, highly regarded business.

Introducing children to the outdoors isn’t necessarily a slam dunk. Mom and dad love spending time running, paddling, camping, etc. Kids will catch on, right? Not always. Ryan Rodgers’ essay, “The Cliff,” reflects on his efforts to inspire his daughter to climb. Inspiration can strike like lightning or require a slow, steady drip of experiences to catch fire. Either way, persistence delivers lifelong rewards. Richard Louv, author of “Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World,” offers suggestions for embracing Mother Nature and rekindling our sense of wonder.

Darren Bush asks us to commit to sharing the love. In his “Reflections on Traditions,” he writes, “We owe it to ourselves, our species, and the earth itself to hand over these skills for safekeeping. Do it out of love, and not obligation, and it will enrich your life as well as the lives of those around you.”

Sound advice.

In this issue, Silent Sports introduces a new column called “Legacies”. Megan Kress profiles the influences of Midwestern women who inspired generations to get outside in “Be the Reason: Phyllis Cook and the Quiet Work of Passing It On.” One small act of courage can inspire a life forever influenced.

ldzierzak@formula4media.com