Outdoor Skills - Education • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission https://www.agfc.com/category/education/interest/outdoor-skills/ Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:48:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6 Mountain Home teacher named Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation Educator of the Year https://www.agfc.com/news/mountain-home-teacher-named-outdoors-tomorrow-foundation-educator-of-the-year/ Wed, 01 May 2024 20:12:47 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=14695 The post Mountain Home teacher named Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation Educator of the Year appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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DALLAS – Freddy Penka of Pinkston Middle School in Mountain Home has been named the 2024 Educator of the Year by Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation. He was presented with this award at OTF’s annual benefit concert April 25.

Penka, previously featured in the Arkansas Wildlife Newsletter, is one of the many Arkansas educators enrolled in the Outdoor Adventures program developed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation to deliver a semester-long course of curriculum that satisfies all state requirements for a co-ed physical education course, a local elective or an agricultural science course.

Founded in 2010 in Dallas, OTF’s K-12 outdoor education curriculum now serves more than 1,400 schools with more than 140,000 students enrolled each year, nationwide and internationally.

With the help of teachers like Penka, Outdoor Adventures is able to provide a niche for students not involved in other extracurricular activities where they can learn practical outdoor skills and an understanding of wildlife conservation.

“I am honored to be named the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation’s 2024 Outdoor Adventure Educator of the Year,” Penka said. “The legacy that I hope to leave with kids is that they value nature through outdoor activities and are able to find happiness and joy through them. I want to thank Arkansas Game and Fish, the Pinkston Middle School Administration and Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation for this award. Without their support this wouldn’t be possible.

Penka has been an educator for 27 years. He first implemented Outdoor Adventures in the classroom in 2021, and has partnered with the AGFC’s Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville to help students connect with nature and the outdoors.

Heather Pitman, facility manager at the nature center, said, “The staff at Crooked Creek Nature Center has enjoyed working with Freddy, both at our center and in the classroom.  Being a part of this program has been a privilege and we are excited to continue working with him in the future.”

Scot McClure, OTF’s director of education, said Penka’s example of how the program can inspire students is the sort of leadership needed to continue the mission of conservation.

“We are so grateful for Freddy’s commitment to the program and are honored to award him as the 2024 Educator of the Year. Freddy’s Outdoor Adventures students are extremely fortunate to have a passionate and exceptional educator to bring the outdoors to life through our program,” McClure said.

Outdoor Adventures is a fun, interactive course where students are taught lifelong skills using an integrated, 40-unit curriculum comprising math, science, writing and critical thinking skills. The 400-plus lessons cover lifelong skills including angler education, archery, hunter education, boater education, orienteering, survival skills, camping, outdoor cooking, challenge courses, backpacking, mountain bike camping, paddle sports, rock climbing, shooting sports, CPR/first aid and fauna, flora and wilderness medicine. OA teachers can pick units specific to their region and local ecosystems.

The program requires a small commitment from the school at startup, with the curriculum costing $1,000, but the school then receives a matching grant from OTF in that same amount to cover supplies needed for classes. The AGFC can even help offset that initial startup expense through one of its conservation education grants, funded by fine money accrued from wildlife citations in every county.

Visit https://www.agfc.com/en/education/classroom/outdoor-adventures/ to learn more about Outdoor Adventures and how to introduce it to your school.

Visit www.gootf.com for more information on the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation.

 

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CUTLINES:

AWARD PHOTO
(from left to right) Tammy and Freddy Penka with the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation’s Educator of the Year Award. Photo courtesy OTF.

CANOE PHOTO
Students in Penka’s class learned all sorts of outdoors skills, including paddling canoes and water safety. Photo courtesy Freddy Penka.

VIDEO
Watch a tribute to Penka’s dedication and the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation. Video courtesy OTF.

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Outdoor Skills Program https://www.agfc.com/education/outdoor-skills-program/ Thu, 18 May 2023 22:07:33 +0000 https://agfc.wpengine.com/?page_id=2075 The post Outdoor Skills Program appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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Outdoor Skills Program

Join the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on a quest to master a variety of outdoor skills and experience a new dimension of the outdoors. The Outdoor Skills Program offers knowledge and hands-on experience to hone your skills in a variety of outdoor pursuits, including: archery, conservation leadership, fishing, game-calling, hunting, marksmanship, paddle sports, trapping and wildlife-watching. Courses are offered year-round at AGFC nature centers.


Team Up To Earn Achievements

You will learn some of these skills in a class or education program; others require going out and doing them on your own. Since we can’t be there with you during every activity in the field, we encourage you to find a friend or expert to work with you along the way. Bring us photos of your accomplishments or get a friend/parent to vouch for you. Part of this is done on the honor system, and we trust that you will get out and enjoy the outdoors with these activities, and let us know what you have accomplished.


Patches Track Your Progress

Show off your level of expertise with Outdoor Skills Program patches. Learn the basic knowledge to earn a patch, then add a bar for each skill level you attain. Progress can be tracked by an AGFC staff member. Work your way through intermediate and advanced levels until you become an expert. Once you reach the advanced level, you will have the opportunity to become a mentor and help others learn the same skills.

Beginner

  • Attend an AGFC basic archery course.

Intermediate

  • Shoot proficiently from two distances (Five arrows in the red or all five arrows in a scoring portion of a 3D target at 10 and 15 yards). -OR-
  • Participate in an Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program Regional tournament. -OR-
  • Compete in an Arkansas Bowhunter’s Association or AGFC 3D tournament.

Advanced

  • Participate in the ANASP state tournament. -OR-
  • Score a 120 on a FITA-style 80 centimeter archery target at 10 yards with 15 arrows twice. -OR-
  • Shoot five arrows in a 3D target kill zone at 20 yards twice.

Expert

  • Score a 135 on a FITA-style 80 centimeter archery target at 10 yards with 15 arrows twice. -OR-
  • Harvest an animal with a bow. -OR-
  • Shoot five arrows in a 3D target kill zone at 35 yards.

Mentor

  • Take someone bowhunting/bowfishing who has never been before.

Beginner

  • Attend an AGFC conservation program.

Intermediate

  • Buy a hunting, fishing license or conservation stamp. -AND-
  • Attend a cleanup project.

Advanced

  • Join a conservation group. -OR-
  • Create a food plot or backyard habitat.

Expert

  • Volunteer at a nature center or education center to lead guided hikes or programs.

Mentor

  • Organize a clean-up or group conservation project.

Beginner

  • Take an AGFC fishing class -AND-
  • Demonstrate how to rig a pole from scratch. -OR-
  • Participate in a fishing derby.

Intermediate

  • Go fishing on your own twice.

Advanced

  • Catch, process and cook your catch.

Expert

  • Obtain one AGFC Master Angler Program qualification pin.

Mentor

  • Take someone fishing who has never been before.

Beginner

  • Attend an AGFC class to make your own call or learn basic game-calling.

Intermediate

  • Demonstrate proficiency of three types of calls to AGFC staff. -OR-
  • Identify 10 wildlife sounds.

Advanced

  • Use call while hunting. -OR-
  • Compete in calling contest.

Expert

  • Harvest game while using call.

Mentor

  • Take someone hunting, while teaching them how to call. -OR-
  • Help someone achieve intermediate patch level.

Beginner

  • Pass a Hunter Education class, -AND-
  • Demonstrate how to safely operate a firearm.

Intermediate

  • Go on two hunts with someone.

Advanced

  • Hunt two types of game (two times each).

Expert

  • Obtain an AGFC Triple Trophy Award. -OR-
  • Harvest, process and cook your game.

Mentor

  • Take someone hunting who has never been. -OR-
  • Help them achieve intermediate patch level.

Beginner

  • Attend basic AGFC shotgun-shooting class

Intermediate

  • Shoot two rounds of trap, skeet or recreational clays with a score of 15 or better on each round.

Advanced

  • Compete in a tournament and shoot 18/25 or better. -OR-
  • Go hunting with a shotgun and harvest game.

Expert

  • Compete in a tournament and shoot 23/25 or 46/50 or better. -OR-
  • Shoot three non-tournament rounds of 20/25 or better. -OR-
  • Harvest a limit of small game animals or migratory game birds with a shotgun.

Mentor

  • Take someone trap shooting who has never done it before.

Beginner

  • Attend basic AGFC canoe or kayak class.

Intermediate

  • Acquire your own life jacket, -AND-
  • Go on canoe/kayak trip.

Advanced

  • Paddle three AGFC Water Trails or bodies of water: Confirm with a photo of paddle gear at trail sign.

Expert

  • Organize and go on overnight paddle trip.

Mentor

  • Take someone on a float trip who has never been before. -OR-
  • Help someone achieve the intermediate patch level.

Beginner

  • Attend basic AGFC rifle-shooting class

Intermediate

  • Shoot air rifle and score 30/100 at standing position on AR-5/10 targets at 10 meters three times.

Advanced

  • Shoot rimfire rifle and score 180/300 on A-17 targets at 50 feet with iron sights – 10 shots each position: prone, kneeling, standing.

Expert

  • Shoot a five-shot, 1-inch group at 100 yards three times.

Mentor

  • Take someone to the range and shoot rifles for the first time.

Beginner

  • Attend a basic trapping workshop.

Intermediate

  • Help someone run a trap line on two occasions.

Advanced

  • Run your own trap line six times. -AND-
  • Join a trappers association.

Expert

  • Process hides from two different species.

Mentor

  • Take someone trapping who has never been before. -OR-
  • Help someone achieve the intermediate patch level.

Beginner

  • Take any AGFC wildlife class.

Intermediate

  • Identify 25 birds in the AGFC Wings Over Arkansas Program, -AND-
  • Attend five animal feedings/programs at an AGFC nature or education center. -OR-
  • Attend an Audubon, Herpetological Society, The Nature Conservancy or Arkansas Wildlife Federation meeting/event.

Advanced

  •  Identify 50 birds in the AGFC Wings Over Arkansas Program, -AND-
  • Identify 10 wildlife tracks. -OR-
  • Attend a wildlife field trip with AGFC or a conservation partner.

Expert

  • Participate in the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. -OR-
  • Create an eBird, eMammal or iNaturalist account and log sightings.

Mentor

  • Take a person on a hike and teach them to use binoculars or a field guide, -AND-
  • Teach a person to identify five animal calls, tracks or signs.

Eric Maynard

Education Assistant Chief – Nature Centers

Phone 501-590-0949
Address
2 Natural Resource Dr.
Little Rock, AR

Search Education

More on Anglers, Conservation, Hunters, Outdoor Skills, Wildlife Viewing

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