The Gift of Fear written by Gavin de Becker is a book that every woman should read.  It is a number one bestseller and recently appeared in the Oprah show.  It is a difficult read as it delves into crimes committed against women, but each woman tells her story, gives de Becker insight into the uneasy feeling they had leading up to an attack, but a feeling they ignored.  De Becker teaches you how to listen to your 6^th sense, how to spot even subtle signs of danger and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

During my first year as a wildlife officer, the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s top undercover investigator gave all of us this book to read.  I know that this book may have saved my life.  I would have ignored the little voice, not wanting to admit something might be wrong had I not read the book.  Nearly every day while working I took along my German shepherd, Kodiak.  He was trained in tracking to help me locate lost hunters, injured wildlife, etc.  The two of us checked literally hundreds of anglers, hunters, and chatted with everyone else we came across.  Kodiak had to be well behaved and never growl unless given a command.  Kids regularly opened the door to my truck to pet him. 

While on back county checks, I came across a group of hunters in a vehicle and stopped them to check licenses, firearms, etc.  I could barely hold Kodiak back.  Immediately he began to snarl, growl, bark and lunge at the door.  He had NEVER behaved like this before or since.  Typically, I leave my window rolled down so I can call him out if needed.  I had to roll the window up because I couldn’t keep him in the truck!  That uneasy feeling came rushing over me.  I was hours from back-up and had no radio or cell phone contact.  With Kodiak’s reaction it wasn’t worth the stop.  I told the group thanks for stopping, but I had an emergency call and had to head down the mountain.  To this day I have no idea what Kodiak sensed, but I listed because of The Gift of Fear.  Read this book; give it to friends, daughters, and mothers.  It is a true eye opener.      

There is a fairly new women’s magazine on the market that may be of interest to all of you – Outdoor Woman Magazine.  It is published quarterly and covers great topics from seasonal outdoor activities to women outdoor professionals.  Every issue includes articles titled Around the Campfire, Get Involved, Outdoor Adventures, Naturalist’s Notebook, Gear and Product Guide, and the Advertiser Index. 

Take a look at their website www.outdoorwomanmagazine.com.  If you have a great outdoor adventure that you’d like to share, know of women making a difference, or know of women serving as outdoor professionals, contact the Editor in Chief – Nancy Keller.  We may be reading your article in the next publication! 

A must-read for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles is Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods:  Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. 

The book, published in 2006, resulted in a national movement to help get more children involved and immersed in the outdoors.  Last Child in the Woods demonstrates the incredible divide between children and the outdoors and how it relates to rising trends in childhood obesity, attention disorders, and depression.  Louv’s research shows direct links between spending time outdoors in nature and improving children’s emotional and physical health.  Unstructured play in the outdoors truly helps children further develop reasoning skills, creativity, and improves their confidence.  We’ve also learned that adults who are passionate about the outdoors were exposed to the outdoors between the ages of 5 and 18.  Playing outside is a critical component to understanding and developing an appreciation for nature.  Without that connection, we’re not only losing outdoor enthusiasts, but future stewards.