Outdoor recreation has given me thrills, stories, scares, lessons, opportunities, joy, content, and fear. It gives me an escape from daily life where I can stand out from society and be the star of my own saga. And when I go back to work on Monday, I can be Clark Kent and keep it all under wraps. I try to plan some sort of weekly adventure to stay active and sharp. It might include exploring a wetland in a sea kayak, or driving to the fall line to catch a few river waves. I might pack in to a place that I've never camped before, or hike into public acess lands far away from roads and entrances for a nomadic whitetail hunt. whatever it is, the plan is to keep it new so that I keep away from complacency. I enjoy the competition that comes from the friends i spend time with outside too. I recently was a competitor in a sea kayak fishing tournament along with some good friends and several hundred other competitors. After a small craft advisory was called and I bonked from lack of electrolites, I was able to catch a contending summer flounder only to be outdone by my partner ten minutes later. At the end of the day the competition only enhances the experience. The only thing that I enjoy more than spending time outdoors is giving others the opportunity to try something outside that they've never had a chance to try before. I think that working with suburbanites and kids is an investment in our future because people don't understand the treasure of our nations public lands. Giving these folks the chance to experience the outdoors gives them a reason to appreciate and protect it so that my children might have the opportunity to enjoy it some day.