|
Post by whistlerwhittler on Aug 11, 2015 8:28:34 GMT -5
I've been asked again to give 20 minute presentations at an event for local sixth graders. The kids come from various urban and rural districts. The talks can be about anything that's conservation oriented. The past few years I've been thinking about giving a trapping talk, but I have not. Some of the topics I've done were animal skull ID, surveying, fish/fishing, and resident Canada goose management.
What do you think about talking trapping with groups of sixth graders? If I were to do it, do you have any good ideas for the trapping talk?
|
|
|
Post by johnrockwood on Aug 11, 2015 9:00:18 GMT -5
Gear your talk to the sixth grade level. Take a display of tanned skins of furbearers common to NY, some literature such as "Trapping and Furbearer Management" and the "Trapping in the 21st Century" booklets as well as the "Furbearer Management Myths & Facts" pamphlet to hand out to those most interested, and a display of common traps used; explaining to them why smaller traps are used for smaller furbearers, etc. Explain how today's foot hold traps are meant to be used as restraining devices and demonstrate why they do not, and why we do not want them to, damage a furbearers paw. Talk about trapping as a positive and necessary tool to manage and utilize the populations of furbearers, what happens when populations are not managed, etc. You'll fill up 20 minutes so fast................ Some of us have been doing something similar with the USSA Trailblazer Events for several years. You'd be surprised how much interest there is in the truth! Even from accompanying adults! Above all, have fun with it.
|
|
|
Post by oakhilltrappin on Aug 11, 2015 17:16:38 GMT -5
For sure !!! I did a "demo" for my sons Cub Scouts Pack....They loved it !! As John said just appeal to their level....Furs to put hands on, I spent some time with lures and baits, which they loved with the whole stink level....I also showed them a set trap and then picked out a kid with a honker of a foot and boots on and had him step on it just so I could kill the image in their eyes that the trap would "chop" their foot off....I was amazed at how long I could keep their attention that day, and mind you these kids ranged from 2nd on up to 6th grade and I work with them every week but still had their utmost attention that day....At the end I had a stack of old Trapping Mags that I let them pick thru to take home...You would have thought they hit the lottery, the stack was gone in minutes....Go for it, you will have a blast !!!
|
|
|
Post by whistlerwhittler on Aug 12, 2015 6:47:34 GMT -5
Thank you John and Oakhill. I'll give it a shot.
|
|
|
Post by mole on Aug 12, 2015 7:18:57 GMT -5
one thought on this project. A lot of misconception about the trap with teeth. I would show & tell that theses are no longer used.
Good Luck on your presentation. Ed
|
|
|
Post by whistlerwhittler on Aug 12, 2015 7:42:48 GMT -5
Good point Mole. I was thinking that I could show them one of my canine traps with offset/laminated jaws and shock spring to demonstrate how trappers are trying to prevent foot injury.
Thanks.
|
|