The Next Generation of Sportsmen
Our collective hunting and fishing heritage goes back thousands of years, it’s in our DNA. These traditions carry on today and are part of the fabric of that is America. We provide of $70 billion dollars to the economy annually . To put that in context, Sportsmen and women would be the 11th biggest corporation in America. At $1.6 million jobs hunters and anglers support more jobs than the country’s largest employer, Wal-Mart. These are sustainable, non-exportable jobs that matter.
NWF Supports Youth Hunters and Anglers
In order to insure that our traditions and the strong economic driver persist, it’s important that we engage the next generation of hunters and anglers. NWF actively supports connecting young children to hunting and fishing through our affiliates, government programs, and national partners.
Children today spend an average of 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen. This means that children are getting outside less, and as a result missing critical experiences in nature or around wildlife. A decreasing number of hunters and anglers poses many threats, including:
- Decreased funding for state fish and game agencies
- Limited relationships between children and the outdoors, known as Nature Deficit Disorder
- Diminished generation of conservation leaders
Whether it’s youth waterfowl days, summer camps, or fishing exhibitions, NWF and our affiliates are committed to the next generation of hunters and anglers. However, we depend on families, mentors, friends, and communities to encourage youth further to take advantage of the numerous resources available to access the outdoors. Plan a fishing trip, sign up for hunter education, make time for summer camp, start your own family sportsmen tradition, or get involved with youth hunting and fishing programs in your area.
Affiliate and Agency Youth Resources