Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLFT) is a hunting awareness program for wildlife and natural resource upper-class and graduate students with the purpose of fostering understanding and respect for hunters and hunting, an extremely important pastime to wildlife management and conservation. Students who have never held a hunting license attend a free, three-day workshop that blends field and classroom instruction designed to teach students about the traditions and biological uses of hunting and hunting skills and safety. With the experience garnered from this program, students will be better equipped to be successful wildlife and natural resource managers. 

 Learn more about the program at http://clft.org/, and read the letter below from a recent participant to get a first hand perspective on the program…

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 Dear CLfT Instructors,

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for your involvement and
contributions to the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow Workshop. The
quality of my experience was well beyond what I was anticipating and I can honestly say that participating in this event has altered the way I view hunting and the ‘brotherhood’ that is hunters. 

When I initially received the email inviting me to participate in the CLfT workshop, I immediately dismissed it. I was much to busy to do anything that did not directly coincide with my research; my mission is to graduate this spring! Not long after my decline, I received another email encouraging my participation, reminding me that I was specifically chosen, and detailing some of the activities that the workshop would entail. This time I felt obligated to participate. So I did…and was I pleasantly surprised! 

To be quite honest, I was expecting to be lectured at by a bunch of good ole’ boys and having them regale us with tales of their hunting days. I could not have been more misled! The wealth and diversity of topics covered, the experience and expertise of the instructors, and the quality of the material presented more than exceeded my expectations. I was elated to see women hunters, some who didn’t start hunting until later in life, professors, law enforcement officers, journalists. It really helped emphasize the message that hunters are a diverse group with different motivations. Every single activity was engaging,  informative, and fun! Each instructor found a way to present their topic via a method that really grabbed us and emphasized the importance of the subject matter, and in many cases, the intense emotional attachment. I was expecting hours of lectures and awkward roundtable discussions where no one was comfortable enough to speak their minds. I was amazed at how effective each instructor was at grabbing and maintaining our attention, answering difficult questions, and engaging the students so that everyone felt like they wanted to participate. I was expecting a boring lecture on gun safety, and played jeopardy instead! Every activity was meaningful and though-provoking. We had to really delve into our persons both as individuals and  conservationists to solve complicated issues, and identify with a culture that we essentially had no exposure to or experience with. Each of you were so adept at capturing the essence of what it means to be a hunter that I felt like I was vicariously experiencing the thrill of a hunt through you.

I think what made the entire experience so enthralling was the personal element that you each brought to the table and how you shared it with us, complete strangers. You are so passionate about what you do that you are willing to share the most intimate and special moments with people whom you have never even met. That speaks volumes not only of your character as an individual, but of your passion for the sport and the resource as a professional. I feel honored and privileged to have partaken of the special experiences you shared with us- Dick’s moving story, Patt’s delicious chili, Frank’s wonderful dogs, and everyone’s stories and photos. Thank you for sharing such a special part of who you are with us. It really helped me “get it.” 

The experience that the CLfT program provided us was beyond instrumental for our careers as natural resource professionals. We can now understand and somewhat identify with a constituency which we will invariably end up representing and supporting. Most of us would have never had this opportunity otherwise. To have all the information, materials and equipment, skilled and experienced instructors, and facilities and accommodations provided to us at no cost is a tremendous opportunity that I am extremely grateful for. Day one I had never shot a gun in my life, and by day three I was hunting pheasants. I was terrified to handle/be around guns, and by the end of the workshop, I felt a lot more comfortable. After having worked with each of you, I was confident that safety would never be compromised and that I could release my apprehensions because I was in excellent hands. 

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your participation in this program. For sacrificing your time, energy, and talents. For caring enough about the sport and the resource and the profession to educate those of us who are ignorant to the realm of hunting. Thank you for your enthusiasm. For your passion. For your experience. Your motivation. Your dedication. Your compassion. And most of all, your willingness to share all of that with us. 
I feel privileged to have met each of you and sincerely hope that our paths cross again in the future. Your participation in this event has broadened my horizons, and for that I am most grateful. 

Laura Uncategorized