Smiles warm a cold winter day Published Feb. 6, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Thomas Dow Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Children and adults alike spent a fun and educational morning learning all about ice fishing at the Child Development Center here Feb. 6. Shane Larson, the director of Outdoor Recreation, and Rachel Filkins, assistant director of Outdoor Rec, spent the morning showing kids, ranging from 1 to 5 years old, many of the different items used while ice fishing. Teaching the kids about ice fishing was one of the many winter-related activities held during the CDC's three-week Winter Fest program. Other activities to be held in the upcoming weeks are learning about ice hockey, penguins and ice sculptures to name a few. Cathy Barber, the CDC director, said activities like these help kids learn to appreciate the winter. "We have to learn to embrace winter because of the area we live in," said Mrs. Barber. Mrs. Barber said the way to teach kids to embrace the winter is by early, hands-on exposure to winter activities. While young children may have short attention spans, bringing in items like an ice auger or a fishing pole gives the kids a chance to touch and feel something, which in turn solidifies that experience in their mind. "These kids will remember the experience of learning about ice fishing because it was hands-on," said Mrs. Barber. Teaching kids about outdoor activities is important because many of the children have never experienced the many winter activities that are available, said Mrs. Barber. She said showing children winter and outdoor activities at an early age helps them build familiarity though hands-on experience. "If kids are not exposed to it they will never know all the things you can do in the outdoors," said Mrs. Barber. Shane Larson mirrored Mrs. Barber's thoughts on the importance of showing youth different winter outdoor activities. It gives kids a little insight on what people can do in the outdoors of North Dakota, said Mr. Larson. It lets kids see there are more things to do in the winter time than just staying indoors, he added. While the educational portion of the activity was important, Mr. Larson said it was just as rewarding to open the eyes of the kids to different experiences. ""It was so fun to see them smile and learn new things," he said. Rachel Filkins said she agreed with Mr. Larson whole-heartedly. "I love to see them smile and know it makes their day a little better doing something different," she said. By teaming up and thinking up new and exiting ways to make education fun, the folks from the Child Development Center and Outdoor Recreation are doing their best to make lasting impressions on young minds. If the smiles were any indication, they accomplished their goal.