Well I had a great experience today. A buddy of mine is a high school science teacher and he asked me to come and talk with his AP Environmental Science classes about trapping and it's role in wildlife management. I put a lot of prep into it, making a presentation with lots of pictures, facts and data to justify why trapping is necessary and relevant even in our modern world. I brought in tons of tanned pelts to be passed around - the kids loved them. There were a couple kids (out of around 40) that were turned off to them and didnt want to touch them, but the vast majority saw their beauty and couldn't believe how soft, silky and warm the furs were. I told them how trapping is highly regulated, and gave several examples. We talked about how trappers take a portion of the population, helping regulate the natural carrying capacity of an area. I told them about modern traps and how they are far from the incorrect image of huge traps with sharp teeth. I showed them an MB 550 and (while wearing my animal handling gloves) sprung the trap on my hand. They were shocked, then I asked for volunteers to put their hand in the trap. I did NOT spring the trap on their gloved hands, but did carefully release the springs, allowing the trap to grip their hand. Several kids (both boys and girls) put their hand in the trap and were shocked that the trap was truly just holding their hand, it wasn't digging into their skin, as several thought traps would do.
It was amazing to talk with this group of upper middle class suburban kids, who had almost NO connection to trapping, and barely any to hunting (a couple hunt deer and 1 did a little trapping) and have them realize that trapping is not what they thought it was. I would highly recommend others try something like this. I am not naive enough to believe that any of these kids will actually become trappers (although I did give that one kid my contact info and told him I would gladly bring him along with me and help him learn more about trapping) but at least now they will have a whole new perspective on what we do and love. There are about 40 young adults who might just be likely to speak up in favor of trapping if they hear some Anti-trapper spreading their misinformation.

Great job!!

Well done.

Thank you for taking your time to inform them. I think I can hear your excitement and feeling of accomplishment in your story. Well done.

Congrats!!! Well done!!

NICE! Glad to see it.

Nice Job! its things like this that hep prevent future anti's one class at a time. I wish schools would have an elective class "outdoorsman" or something similar. where they could learn how to harvest for themselves by hunting, fishing, trapping, etc.

I can't think of anything better for trapping as a whole than what you just did. I mean it- nothing is more important. Well done!

When is your next presentation and do you need any help?

Excellent, well done!

I'm guessing you positively changed the outlook of a bunch of kids with the information you presented. We need much more of this in our schools.

Nice Job

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time.

Excellent job! We all need to follow your example and try to do anything we can to put trapping in a better light.