The old African adage “It takes a village to raise a child” seemed to be the theme as conservation agent David Carlisle stood before a group last week whose sole mission is to enhance the lives of area youth.

Carlisle had come before the St. Joseph Optimist Club to discuss how the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), with the help of citizens, businesses and civic organizations, can play a vital role in helping the youth of our state.

“Our job, mission, directive and our passion as an agency is to help not just the hunters, fishermen and trappers, but everyone to learn to appreciate the outdoors,” Carlisle said. “Our agency is very big on the recruitment of new hunters and anglers . . . but we’re also very big on educating all of our youth including those who enjoy other outdoor pursuits.”

There are many changes going on in the world of conservation, and MDC is trying to encompass the needs of everyone.

To accomplish these goals, MDC offers a host of programs aimed at reaching the diverse interests of the next generation of outdoor people. Many of these programs rely heavily on the help of volunteers and the support of civic organizations and businesses.

First on Carlisle’s list was the Hunter Education Program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. This program has substantially reduced the number of hunting accidents in our state, while passing on a rich tradition of ethics and morals to future generations of hunters. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of the hundreds of volunteers who make it so successful.

Next on Carlisle’s list of important youth programs was the many available clinics put on by the various departments within MDC. Throughout the year, the staff and volunteers of MDC host clinics on just about every outdoor pursuit.

Whether it be an in-depth look at waterfowl hunting where everything from equipment, locations, and species identification are discussed, or a small classroom where anglers learn to tie the latest fish catching patterns, MDC clinics have proven to be an asset in recruiting new faces to the outdoors.

“Our clinics are almost always held in a hands-on environment,” Carlisle said. “For instance, an MDC deer hunting clinic would not only cover firearms and bows that are appropriate, but also locations and tactics and even how to field dress the animal once a successful shot has been made.”

MDC’s clinics are designed to approach the subject in its entirety. Youth need to understand the whole sport, not just how to shoot a deer or turkey or land a mess of crappie. MDC’s clinics are designed to show participants what goes on before and after an animal is harvested.

Hunting and fishing are a large part of MDC’s operations and recruiting future participants is vital to management efforts. But MDC isn’t stopping there. Through programs in schools, churches and other organized groups such as Scouts, 4H and FFA, MDC is striving to bring the message of conservation to all youth.

Carlisle explained how MDC is hosting wildlife events in many schools where various stations are set up to provide youth with information on important topics such as fisheries, wildlife and resource regulations and management, forestry and deer decoy programs.

MDC’s Outreach and Education Division also is working with the school districts throughout the state in an attempt to “teach our teachers” how to integrate a message about the importance of conservation into their existing curriculum.

This, Carlisle explained, is often a difficult task, as many teachers themselves don’t hunt, fish or otherwise use the outdoors, and often they aren’t inclined to pursue these topics. Many teachers are also under tremendous time constraints to fit in their traditional coursework.

For older youth, MDC offers the opportunity of getting involved through volunteering. College and high school students who are looking to gain some real-life experience in the world of conservation and help build a strong resume can often find a niche through MDC.

Carlisle said students have the opportunity to get involved in Hunter Education, Naturalist Programs and even a new Protections Division Program where select students who are working to become an agent can get a real taste for the job.

Carlisle stressed the need for community involvement in making MDC’s programs a success, whether it’s through hosting events, volunteering or even supplying items like bait, food or other necessities.

Outdoors correspondent Jeff Leonard can be reached at outdoors@ngpco.com