Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors received a $25,000.00 grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Torstenson Family Endowment Hunting Heritage Grant Program. These funds will be used to increase our efforts to get kids hunting and fishing through outdoor tutoring.
Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors has been dedicated to recruiting mentors for at-risk youth since its inception in 2002. RMEF was one of the first to step up and help launch Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors’ outdoor mentoring efforts in 2002 Last year, our program coordinators planned over 500 events throughout the states of Kansas and Iowa that resulted in over 1,200 kids getting outdoors through mentoring. Since fall 2019, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors has doubled the number of hunts year over year and expects to host more than 700 hunts by 2023, growing another 50%.
Brittany French, CEO of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, commented: “Our program is identifying the barriers young people face when they become hunters or fishermen. We work every day to break down those barriers by providing new and ongoing hunting and fishing opportunities for young people interested in becoming outdoorsmen. By providing access, social support and guidance from vetted volunteer mentors, thousands of children each year are reaping the benefits of the outdoors. With the generosity of RMEF, we will be able to serve more deserving youth outdoors!”
“As an organization looking to secure the future of our hunting heritage, RMEF is happy and proud to support the good work done by Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors. Introducing more boys and girls to the outdoors helps instill a love and appreciation of our wildlife, conservation and hunting, which they can cherish and pass on to future generations,” said Blake Henning, RMEF conservation director.
“As our model evolves to accommodate the outdoor culture of different areas, we see tremendous opportunities for its growth and expansion,” shared Mike Christensen, president of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors. “As we establish our program in new areas, we expect our growth to continue at a rapid pace. But none of this would be possible without the strong support we have received from RMEF from the very beginning. When organizations can partner and leverage our expertise, we can make great things happen for kids outdoors!”
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded 39 years ago, driven by hunters and with more than 225,000 members, the RMEF has conserved more than 8.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Find out why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at www.rmef.org, www.elknetwork.com or 800-CALL ELK.
About Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors
Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. is a national organization based in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to providing children with mentors who will share the experiences of traditional outdoor activities with them. The heart of the group’s mission is to provide children with opportunities to connect with nature that they likely won’t have without a mentor to show them the way. By partnering with organizations with like-minded conservation and youth engagement efforts like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pheasants Forever, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation, among others, volunteers with a passion for the outdoors can give you a child the opportunity to go fishing, hunting, or just spending time in the country with a loving adult. For more information about Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, visit http://www.outdoormentors.org.