This week’s blog was written by Trevor, a Bucktails alum. Trevor enjoys being in the outdoors and is an avid sportsman who hunts and traps. He is considering pursuing a career in wildlife biology because he would like to become a State Park Ranger.
The love of the outdoors has been rooted deep within my family for many generations. We joke that I was born a wildlife enthusiast. My grandfather took me out in the great outdoors before I could even walk. This was a passion that his father had instilled within him. Unbeknownst to my grandfather, he was paving the way for my future. The generational hunting, trapping, hiking, and conserving of resources would soon open doors for me that were unimaginable.
The Pennsylvania youth mentor program allowed amazing opportunities for me to get out into the woods and harvest white-tailed deer at a young age. By the time I was nine years old, I had already successfully harvested my first buck through the youth mentor program. I spent my free time in the woods learning alongside my grandfather. Unfortunately, in October 2020, my world flipped upside down when my grandfather, my mentor, experienced a massive heart attack that nearly took his life. After many months of recovery, he was permitted to be back in the woods, but with significant restrictions. The role of “mentored student” took a shift to “outdoor companion”. Nonetheless, a health setback wasn’t about to deter our love of spending time together in the woods.
A pivotal point in my journey of self-discovery was when I was nominated to the Wildlife Leadership Academy. I really had no comprehension of the amazing and life changing opportunity that awaited me at camp. I attended PA Bucktails and enjoyed learning about white-tailed deer. This experience was just the tip of the iceberg. When I returned home, I had a lot of ideas for outreach. A passion had been ignited inside of me at camp. I hit the ground running, and I held my first outreach event just two weeks following camp.
My summer was filled with creating tri-folds regarding a variety of topics ranging from Pennsylvania wildlife, wildflowers, and pollination. I’ve completed numerous presentations, hosted various booths, and created interactive conservation activities for youth in my community. Most importantly, I have mentored others in the great outdoors via fishing, hiking, biking, and visiting state parks. The Wildlife Leadership Academy took a hobby I did with my grandfather and helped me to see the multitude of opportunities within this industry. This amazing organization has allowed me to solidify my decision to choose a career in conservation.
I am excited to see where my continual involvement in the Wildlife Leadership Academy will lead me. When I was accepted into the Wildlife Leadership Academy, my grandfather told me “This is an opportunity that many kids will never have, be sure to make the most of it. It could change your life”. These words have stuck with me. I often consider the impact that my grandfather’s efforts to expose me to the outdoors has made on my life. I want to be able to provide that same opportunity for others. The Wildlife Leadership Academy is making that goal a reality for me.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Posted: August 30, 2025 by Katie Mace
This week’s blog was written by Trevor, a Bucktails alum. Trevor enjoys being in the outdoors and is an avid sportsman who hunts and traps. He is considering pursuing a career in wildlife biology because he would like to become a State Park Ranger.
The love of the outdoors has been rooted deep within my family for many generations. We joke that I was born a wildlife enthusiast. My grandfather took me out in the great outdoors before I could even walk. This was a passion that his father had instilled within him. Unbeknownst to my grandfather, he was paving the way for my future. The generational hunting, trapping, hiking, and conserving of resources would soon open doors for me that were unimaginable.
The Pennsylvania youth mentor program allowed amazing opportunities for me to get out into the woods and harvest white-tailed deer at a young age. By the time I was nine years old, I had already successfully harvested my first buck through the youth mentor program. I spent my free time in the woods learning alongside my grandfather. Unfortunately, in October 2020, my world flipped upside down when my grandfather, my mentor, experienced a massive heart attack that nearly took his life. After many months of recovery, he was permitted to be back in the woods, but with significant restrictions. The role of “mentored student” took a shift to “outdoor companion”. Nonetheless, a health setback wasn’t about to deter our love of spending time together in the woods.
A pivotal point in my journey of self-discovery was when I was nominated to the Wildlife Leadership Academy. I really had no comprehension of the amazing and life changing opportunity that awaited me at camp. I attended PA Bucktails and enjoyed learning about white-tailed deer. This experience was just the tip of the iceberg. When I returned home, I had a lot of ideas for outreach. A passion had been ignited inside of me at camp. I hit the ground running, and I held my first outreach event just two weeks following camp.
My summer was filled with creating tri-folds regarding a variety of topics ranging from Pennsylvania wildlife, wildflowers, and pollination. I’ve completed numerous presentations, hosted various booths, and created interactive conservation activities for youth in my community. Most importantly, I have mentored others in the great outdoors via fishing, hiking, biking, and visiting state parks. The Wildlife Leadership Academy took a hobby I did with my grandfather and helped me to see the multitude of opportunities within this industry. This amazing organization has allowed me to solidify my decision to choose a career in conservation.
I am excited to see where my continual involvement in the Wildlife Leadership Academy will lead me. When I was accepted into the Wildlife Leadership Academy, my grandfather told me “This is an opportunity that many kids will never have, be sure to make the most of it. It could change your life”. These words have stuck with me. I often consider the impact that my grandfather’s efforts to expose me to the outdoors has made on my life. I want to be able to provide that same opportunity for others. The Wildlife Leadership Academy is making that goal a reality for me.
Category: Youth Blog Tags: featured, outdoor mentorship, outdoors, youth