STEP OUTDOORS PROGRAM The Manitoba Wildlife Federation has many years recognized the importance of keeping the ‘Outdoors’ in our youth. The Step Outdoors manual has been a dream project to achieve that end, and I am extremely proud and pleased to be connected with this milestone project. With our increased demands on everyday life; raising families, making a living and the advent of technologies’ gadgets, games and ‘gigawatts hours’ of in-home entertainment, our youth are not being exposed to many of the traditional activities and opportunities that help build the deep love and appreciation that many of our older generation have for our natural world. Hunting, fishing, chasing frogs or just laying in a field watching the clouds float by, are some of many important moments our children should not miss out on, as it helps shape compassionate, responsible individuals and future stewards of our environment. This manual is just one small tool to help us keep the ‘Outdoors’ in our youth. It offers a wide range of activities from simple introductions of what a Forest Habitat is, to more complex discussions and workshops on how and why to build an Environmental Stove, where to erect a Tree Stand and how to tie a Reef Knot! This manual is set-up to guide even the inexperienced user through the various discussions and activities needed to offer the program to our youth. For many of you reading this manual, you are already working with our youth by introducing them to the wonders and joys of nature. We hope this material will provide some new experiences and opportunities for you to offer your children. The Step Outdoors Manual will never be completed, as we will be continually adding new programs for many years to come. We welcome your activities and workshop ideas for possible future additions to the manual. Special thanks goes out to volunteer Cathy Shaluk, MWF Vice-President responsible for Education, who devoted countless hours in developing modules as well as coordinating and revising the final version. Thank you to volunteers Tom Paukovic and Chris Benson, and staff Darlene Garnham and Reg Wiebe, for sharing their ideas and developing modules. Thanks to all their efforts, this project has become a reality. Thank you to the Canadian Wildlife Federation for financial assistance with production costs. Step Outdoors! John T. Williams, President TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE SECTION 1 WILDLIFE & THEIR HOMES What’s A Habitat - Level 1 Wetland Habitats - Level 2 Forest Habitats - Level 3 Native Wildflowers – Level 1 Native Wildflower - Level 2 Wild Edibles - Level 3 Native Wildflowers In Winter Species at Risk Bird Watching – Level 1 .............1 .............4 .............8 .............13 .............18 .............21 .............25 .............27 .............33 SECTION 2 OUTDOOR TRANSPORTATION Canoeing – Strokes & Safety – Level 1 Snowshoeing - Level 1 Snowshoeing - Level 2 Tread Lightly Riding Program ATV – Basics ATV - Basic Operation – Level 1 ATV – Reading the Terrain – Level 2 ATV - Rodeo – Level 3 .............1 .............8 .............10 .............16 .............19 .............25 .............29 .............32 SECTION 3 SURVIVAL Basic Knot Tying Basic Compass Compass Work .............1 .............5 .............8 SECTION 4 HUNTING Animal Detective Stalking Skills Create a Mock Scrape Building a Ground Blind Selecting a Stand Site – Level 1 Selecting/Placing a Tree Stand – Level 2 Duck & Goose Calling Animal Tracks .............1 .............3 .............4 .............6 .............8 .............10 .............14 .............15 SECTION 5 BOW HUNTING Types of Bows – Level 1 Selecting Arrows – Level 2 Archery Accessories Shooting Practice .............1 .............6 .............8 .............9 SECTION 6 TRAPPING SKILLS Traps and Snares Tanning Hides Junior King or Queen Trapper – Level 3 .............1 .............4 .............9 SECTION 7 FISHING Fish Anatomy – Level 1 Fish Identification – Level 2 Fishing Gear – Level 1 Lines & Knots – Level 2 Casting – Level 3 .............1 .............7 .............10 .............14 .............17 SECTION 8 OUTDOOR COOKING Cooking Basics – Level 1 Camp Stoves – Level 2 Keyhole Cooking Fire – Level 3 Building an Environmental Stove–Level 3 Bannock on a Stick Camp Chili Camp Stir Fry .............1 .............2 .............3 .............5 .............8 .............9 .............10 SECTION 9 THINGS TO DO Hunting for Sheds – Level 1 Antler Craft – Level 2 Mounting Antlers – Level 3 Geo-caching .............1 .............2 .............4 .............6 Download the entire guide (click here)