What is Environmental Education?

The majority of outdoorsmen and women have a special place in their hearts for conservation. Protecting our mountains, forests, streams and lakes for the wildlife is a part of our lives. I have been exposed to conservation efforts my entire life, starting with those taking place in Northern Maine. School projects, Boy Scouts, and family recreation entrenched an ethic of conservation and preservation in my family. One of the most memorable projects was during my senior year of high school in an Environmental Science class. We spent a few days studying the water in our local network of rivers. Hands on experience and learning in the outdoors are what made this experience memorable.

I have been learning about “Trout in the Classroom” over the past few weeks. This program provides supplies to elementary and middle school students around the country to hatch trout eggs in the classroom. The program does not directly improve waterways or stock fish; rather it supports interdisciplinary education by combining history, science, arts, literature, and other subjects into a tangible project, hatching fish eggs. It also teaches students about their local fisheries and promotes a culture of conservation. The program culminates when the baby fish (AKA fry) are released into local waterways during the next few weeks. I love it!

Here is a video collage of egg delivery day in the Tahoe Basin. 2000 eggs were delivered. As you will see, the expression on student faces is priceless. It brings me a wealth of joy knowing that our waterways will be cared for generations to come. I am confident that my future children will have tracts of wilderness to explore, thriving with wildlife.

Learn more about Trout in the Classroom by visiting their blog.
http://troutintheclassroom.wordpress.com/about/

Paul Thibodeau

A gun for Valentine's Day.

For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend said he was getting me a hand gun. I protested because I had pretty high expectations for a fancy dinner and flowers (and I’ve never actually held a gun before, let alone shot one), but I was hit with a very calculated (and well rehearsed) rebuttal.

“A gun is the most romantic gift you can give.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Flowers may be beautiful, but no matter what you do, they will die, and that is certainly not a good example of my love. A gun, however, will not die. It says ‘I love you so much that I want to protect you and keep you safe.’ It says that I will love you forever.”

As my boyfriend waited for applause, I actually started thinking… If I did have a gun, would my insurance cover it? (When you work in an insurance office, liability coverage replaces any and all romance in your life.)

But seriously… Of all the things in this world, that would be the one policy I would not want to be caught without!   

And so the research began.

Homeowner’s policies do not cover “intentional loss.” I.E. Because of my gross inexperience with firearms, going to a shooting range would be the first thing I would do with my Valentine’s present. Making that shooting range in my living room, however, would not be wise. But, I read on, if there was “bodily injury resulting from the use of reasonable force to protect persons or property,” then the policy would be effective.

So reasonable force? That thought made my head spin. So a burglar, a serial killer, GASP, alien invasion!? Fortunately for me, that exclusion is decided on a case to case basis, so my wildest reverie could be put to rest.

As I tried explaining my findings to my boyfriend with a robust tangent about aliens, he told me to go talk to an agent in the office. (Apparently my monologue was less epic than his.) And as always, they were able to explain gun liability with an ease and grace I will never quite comprehend.

I took the wind out of the sails on the whole gun gift and got my fancy dinner. But over wine and steak, I agreed that I would be open to the possibility of a gun in the future.

As long as it’s pink.  

For your own personal gratification, here is the article on gun liability. But I’d also encourage you to stop by and ask one of our agents any and all questions you might have. Especially if you have a wild imagination. 

Calling all fishermen!

There has been a recent (re)discovery at Pyramid Lake. The Lahontan cutthroat trout, once thought to be extinct, has resurfaced. For years in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, fishermen frequented the lake hoping to hook the Goliath trout (the official world record was a 41 pounder caught in 1925). However, after the Truckee River was dammed, the population of the cutthroat dropped until they were completely gone from the lake by the mid 1940s.

In the 1970s, a biologist found a strain of the cutthroat in a small creek on the border of Nevada and Utah called Pilot Peak. Apparently a Utah man had stocked the small creek with the fish in the early 1900s and had never made a record of it. And so, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service worked hard to preserve the fish by bringing the eggs they found to a hatchery in Gardnerville. In 2006, they stocked Pyramid Lake with the cutthroat spawn and crossed their fingers.

Those prayers were answered in November 2012, when a Reno man caught a 24 pound trout. Since then, sportsmen have visited the lake in hopes of catching (and releasing) the biggest fish of their lives. According to biologists, the fish that have been caught are still adolescents, with more than 2/3s of their life left. For fisherman far and wide this is great news. There is still time to break that 41 pound record. 

-Sophie

NDOW Offering Bowhunters Course

Although taking this course in bowhunting is not required in NV, they are aware that most hunters enjoy hunting in other states that do require the course.

April 4th, 2010
8am-6pm
$15 per student
Class topics include:

• Bowhunter responsibility
• Preparation for the Hunt
• Shot placement
• Ethics on the hunt
• Stalking and blood trailing

Find out more information or register at http://www.ndow.org/ or call Jim O'Kelly at 7750626-7509.

For information pertaining to education requirements and courses in other states please visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Website.

 

Locals Nevadans should be in for a great huntings season. Most deer hunting units are now open and the season is under way. The antler growth this year seems amazing. Here are a few pictures of some deer that were taken during the archery season. http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID6/18629.html

http://www.monstermuleys.com/photos/PhotosID24/25.html

Thank God for Close Calls

The story:
Just another family camping trip. For me this is all relatively new, if I'm going to be honest I was a born and raised city girl who married into a family of outdoor fanatics. I try to be a good sport and go with the flow. So far I'm converting over rather well, at least in my opinion.

All was going great until my husband barges in on me while taking an afternoon camping cat-nap. He's acting frantic so I wake up rather quickly. I find out that 1. He's rolled the ATV, 2. My mother-in-law may have broken her leg, and 3. The ATV is at the bottom of an inaccessible mountain surrounded by thick aspens and bushes. Fun. To top off the situation, we almost roll the truck down the mountain while returning to the scene trying to rescue my mother-in-law. It was a day for drama.

After a night spent at the emergency room and another day spent (by the men) winching the ATV up the mountain, I was able to sit back and evaluate the situation. It's times like these I'm thankful that we all are in the insurance business. As insurance agents, protecting against and preparing for the worst and is our job. Granted, this scenario was in no way "the worst" - mother-in-law was diagnosed with a pretty bad bruise but no broken limbs, the ATV survived with a couple scrapes and dents but nothing major. Thank God for close calls though, they make you re-evaluate your situation and plan accordingly in the future.

The fact is, accidents happen to even the most experienced and careful of all people. Sometimes they are in your control but a lot of times they are not. The best advice I can give you is to evaluate your insurance coverage often. Have you looked over your insurance for you, your family, or your business lately? We'd be happy to help you with a free consultation and evaluation of your current coverages at no obligation to you. Just give us a holler! http://www.menathinsurance.com/

Risk Management Basics - Hunting Guides

There are some basic precautions you can take to reduce your risk while out in the field with clients. Sometimes putting these items into practice can even reduce your insurance premium.

The tough part about being in the outdoor industry is that you are paid based on the "thrill" you provide your clients. Therefore, it's critical to create the ideal balance of giving your clients what they want and maintaining a safe environment. Here are some basic safety principals you can put into force. For a personalized risk assessment please give our office a call at 800-756-6507.

1. Require that ALL participants sign and complete a liability waiver which discloses risks involved. All minors must have parents present and signed for. In addition, prescreen guests prior to participating: how much prior experience do they have? What medical/health conditions and fitness ability do they have? Are they under the influence of alcohol?


2. Require that all riders/drivers of vehicles or horses wear proper safety gear including helmets and appropriate attire. Require lifejackets be worn on boat trips.


3. Bring proper safety equipment on trips such as: communication device, first aid kit, rope, flares, snake bite kit, GPS system, etc.


4. Stay up to date on, and follow all state safety regulations for your industry.


5. All guides should have completed proper safety training including first aid and CPR. Additional training is always a plus.


6. All guides should be licensed and certified for outfitting. Check new guide's references before hiring, if sub-guide request proof of insurance.


7. Implement a written safety/emergency plan and distribute to all staff members - this should address evacuation procedures, overnight accomodations, lost parties, injuries, etc.


8. Keep a low guest to guide ratio and avoid allowing too many hunters to go out at once.


9. Do not provide or allow alcohol during trip!


10. If hunting stands are used, they should be checked by guide before every use. Safety harnesses should be required while in use.


11. Always file an itinerary with someone - forest serivce or home office - so people know where you are at at all times.

Insurance Review

1. Review your general liability insurance. What are your limits? Do your limits meet state requirements?


2. Are you properly insured to cover specific exposures? (ATVs, snowmobiles, lodging, horses, hunting, fishing, pack trips, etc.)


3. Are you using your personal auto? What are your auto limits? If you only have limits that meet state requirements it's likely that your limits are drastically too low for your exposure.


4. Do guests come into your home? You will also need to review your homeowner's policy.


5. Do you use ATVs, boats, or other vehicles for personal use? Your business policy will not cover personal use, you may want to look into additional coverage.

For a personalized insurance review simply fax your current policies to 775-831-6235 "Attn: Jacob" and we will gladly assist you in reviewing your current policies and examining possible gaps in coverage.