To inspire the next generation of campfire stories.

WHY

I was fortunate to have the childhood I did.  Not only did I have two loving parents that were present, but they also led by example.  Spending time in the outdoors was a big part of that.  Every family vacation and hobby revolved around the outdoors.  From snow skiing and waterskiing to hunting, fishing, and camping.  Some of my favorite childhood memories were the summer days I spent paddling my canoe up the small river behind my family’s house. I took pride in knowing every hole fish would be hiding in and what color lure they would eat.  Most of my birthday parties were campouts with my friends on the banks of that same river.  Like a lot of kids I also played every organized sport and even built my identity around those at times.  There is no question that organized sports taught me some invaluable lessons, but it was the time I spent in the outdoors that would shape who I would become as an adult. 

I was too young and naive to realize how great of a gift my parents had given me. When I became a dad myself it didn’t take long to recognize my kids wouldn’t grow up in the same world I did. Kids as young as 8 spend more than 7 hours in front of a screen every day while teens are closer to 9 hours.  Thats 4.5 months a year spent staring at a screen.  In one generation obesity is up 300%, Ritalin usage up 3,000%, while outdoor time for kids has been cut in half.  Childhood depression is rising every year and suicide is one of the leading causes of death for kids in America.  And it’s not just kids; adults have similar statistics.  On top of that, the number of households in the US that contain a nuclear family is decreasing annually.  Clearly something is broken.  I began to ask myself what the best version of my kids, my family and even myself looks like.  It’s an obvious answer but the challenge wasn’t in answering the question; it was in taking the steps to live it out.  It isn’t lost on me that you’re reading these words on a screen right now so obviously I’m not anti-technology.  Used in the correct way, technology and media can teach, entertain and inspire the best in us. Tradition Wild was born out of this idea. To build a culture that loves the outdoors, celebrates virtue and embraces the spirit of adventure.  I want to inspire the next generation of campfire stories.

Luke Pearson