The headlines identify a constant theme for my first column of the year: Jan. 1, 2009, "Payback time in the Great Outdoors;" Jan. 7, 2010, "Setting the stage now for the coming year;" Jan. 6, 2011, "Giving is the theme of the year;" Jan. 5, 2012, "Beginning a new year means opportunity to give back to the outdoors;" Jan. 3, 2013, "Giving back a motto for all."

First column always about giving back

Yes, this is a recurring theme for the first column of each year. Thus, the first writing of the year has become a call to arms, a rallying call, to give back to the outdoors. This tradition allows each reader to ask, "What can I do to give back to the Great Outdoors?" Consider these ideas as an answer:

Picking up litter

The simplest and easiest way to give back is to pick up after the inconsiderate people (I would use a stronger description here for these people, but the editor wouldn't allow such words) who discard soda cans, candy wrappers, worm containers and other litter throughout the great outdoors. No one should throw out such trash, but for some reason people feel it necessary to deposit trash at the campsite, along the trail or alongside the road.

I'm lucky to have friends who feel it is good karma to pick up some of the items. Encourage your friends to do the same, young or old. The youth are easily trained to do so and adult friends usually catch on after a while.

Picking up a beverage can is fine and so are candy wrappers and Styrofoam worm containers, but don't mess with broken glass or larger items. Don't pick up anything that will make noise in the backpack when hunting.

Teach someone about the outdoors

Teaching our youth outdoor skills is a duty we all understand, but don't forget the inexperienced adults. For example, there are adults who have never learned fishing skills. Their parents didn't fish, so they didn't learn to fish. Now they have a son or daughter who is curious about the sport and wants to participate.

Teaching someone about the outdoors is a way to make sure outdoor skills will continue through the ages. Teach one person how to cook a meal on a camp stove each year and if they then teach one person the same skill each year and...well you get the idea.

Teach a family about camping

Instead of providing instruction to one member of a family, teaching the entire family about fishing or camping is entirely possible.

Plan a camping trip to a local campsite, but conduct a rehearsal in the backyard before the actual event. Pitch the tent and cook a meal on the camp stove. Both of these exercises will provide valuable training when actually camping.

Make the first camping trip to a nearby campground, such as Potholes State Park. This will allow for a trip home if anything is forgotten. Of course, this is where the camping checklist is appropriate.

Keep a log or journal

Bird watching and wildlife viewing are easy and fun activities while camping at an established campsite. Ask the family to keep a log or journal, either one as a family or each member of the family could write their own.

Log the birds, by name, using a bird identification book. Do the same with wildlife, such as deer, squirrels, ground hogs, etc.

These journals could be as detailed as desired, such as to record the difficulty or ease of pitching the tent, starting the fire or cooking the meals. These are the types of journals which appear years later and are treasured by generations to come.

Day trips

Taking the family or a couple of friends on a day trip can provide a vast amount of outdoor education. Take along resource books about birds, animals and vegetation. Also take lunch, be it the items to make sandwiches or a hot meal. This is another way to use a camp stove and heat a stew, soup or cook hamburgers.

Paper plates and plastic forks, spoons and knives will aid the clean-up chore, but as long as cleaning the cooking pot or skillet is necessary, using camping plates and utensils may add a bit of fun to the outing. If this is simply a day trip, most of the items to be cleaned can go in the dishwasher at home, except the cast iron skillet, which will need to be hand washed.

Have fun

Have fun when in the Great Outdoors, but be careful out there. And always be on the lookout for ways to give back. Provide opportunities for your family and friends to create memories which last a lifetime.