Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Thank you! - donated knives for youth hunters - Pass it On! Outdoor Mentors

(Several months ago I introduced this program on the deer hunting forum, but knowing many of you are RMEF members I wanted to share it here, too. Thank you for your support of this youth program that is working hard to introduce and recruit the next generation of hunters!)

On behalf of Mike Christensen, Brittany French, and the many mentors and volunteers in the Pass it On! Outdoor Mentors program, I want to say "Thank you!" and share this picture to show the difference all of you are making as we have kicked off this program...your response and support has been amazing! Yesterday I had the honor of handing all of these knives off to Mike at their office in Wichita and the generous donations that have come from many members here was truly impressive. A few of these custom knives will be used in upcoming events to support fund-raising efforts for the program, but the majority will go directly to youth on future hunts. Other knives have already been given out or handed off to other leaders for upcoming hunts. Some of the knives are new and others are used, but all will bring smiles to youth in the year ahead. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a long-time supporter of the Outdoor Mentors program and is joining in this effort, too, so there will be lots of youth on future hunts that will be putting a new knife to work on cleaning game for the first time.



Just as a young hunter harvesting their first pheasant, turkey, deer or any other game is a celebrated "growing up" moment, I feel that first knife is a rite of passage, too. I see it as another opportunity to teach responsibility. In a previous post I shared comments from several parents and youth that were recipients of knives donated earlier and many put their knife to use shortly after harvesting their first deer. Thanks to your generosity many more youth will have a similar experience in the year ahead as we host more hunts.

If you are interested in supporting the Pass it On! Outdoor Mentors program through a knife donation or some other way (mentor for youth hunts, land owner willing to host youth hunts, financial support, etc), please feel free to send me a pm. Outdoor Mentors has joined as a member here on the forum, so you are welcome to reach out to Mike directly there, too.

Best wishes and thanks again to all who have helped support this program!