Every outdoors person will tell you that a cup of tea 'definitely tastes better in the woods.' (Jeff Piercey/Submitted by Gord Follett) If there's one positive thing to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that it has drawn many new people to the solace and safety of the great outdoors. Families that never experienced as much as an old-fashioned boil-up are buying Kelly Kettles, hiking boots, snowshoes, fishing rods and the like.
They're picking their own berries and mushrooms, learning to set rabbit snares and Googling outdoor tips and ideas. Those with previous outdoor experiences, meanwhile, are spending more time than ever in the woods. While fishing and hunting have been my primary outdoor pursuits over the years, there are countless ways to enjoy all that nature has to offer.
Still, though, some residents of our cities and more populated areas remain hesitant about leaving the pavement and making tracks though the forest or even one of the many scenic and peaceful camping parks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The first step is to get your feet wet, so to speak. Gord Follett Sr.
didn’t get his first real taste of the outdoors until he was in his 60s, around the time he was inducted into the Newfoundland Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. He often said he wished he had experienced the outdoor life sooner. (Gord Follett) Enter the province's Becoming an Outdoors Family program.
It's been in operation just a few years — a spinoff of the highly popular Becoming an Ou.