Last year, when Courtney Wilson asked her then-5-year-old son, Lincoln Wilson-Gale, to choose a souvenir during a trip to Washington, Missouri, he selected a bird field guide. “That was the first time I realized this is really his thing,” Wilson says.
Today, Lincoln often carries binoculars, identifies bird calls with the Merlin Bird ID app, searches for unusual insects, and leads outdoor family scavenger hunts. That passion recently helped propel him to a top 5 finish in the National Wildlife Federation’s Jr. Ranger Rick competition, a contest designed to celebrate young conservationists and nature enthusiasts.
But for Wilson, a school counselor and parent coach who runs the local parenting resource Build Parenting, the most meaningful part wasn’t the ranking; it was watching other families become inspired to spend more time outside. “People have been reaching out asking where to go and how to find these activities,” she says. “That’s been really exciting.”
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Raising a nature kid
Long before Lincoln became a Jr. Ranger Rick contender, weekends often revolved around nature programs, hiking trails, and wildlife encounters. The family regularly visits the Audubon Center at Riverlands, Lone Elk Park, World Bird Sanctuary, Grant’s Farm, the Saint Louis Zoo, and Missouri Department of Conservation programs.
Lincoln’s interests have evolved naturally over time. One summer, it was birds. Another season, it was bugs. Recently, he’s become fascinated with reptiles, particularly Komodo dragons and Gila monsters. “I really like nature and bugs,” Lincoln says. “I like to learn stuff.”
His curiosity often follows him home. Wilson recalls watching him encounter an unfamiliar insect outside and immediately begin counting its legs to determine whether it might be a spider. “We’re not trying to do anything special,” she says. “It’s just becoming part of what we do.”
Why spending time outside matters
As both a parent and a school counselor, Wilson sees value in outdoor experiences. “I always tell people I’m a better parent when I’m out,” she says. “When I’m home, I’m thinking about cleaning and all the things that keep you busy. When we’re outside, it’s easier to put my phone down and just be present.”
She also notices a difference in her children’s behavior. “They’re calmer. They’re learning. They’re growing,” she says. “Then, it’s really cool to see them bring that learning home.”
Those benefits have become increasingly important in a world dominated by screens.
“I see every day how important it is to give kids space to slow down, be curious, and really connect with the world around them,” Wilson says. “It’s very grounding and centering.”
Where families can start
For parents hoping to nurture a similar interest, Wilson recommends starting small. Her favorite resource is the Missouri Department of Conservation, which offers free classes and programs across the region. One recent program taught children about plants through storytime and a scavenger hunt. The activity inspired Lincoln to create similar scavenger hunts around the neighborhood.
“They do little classes that are really easy,” Wilson says. “It’s a gentle way to get into nature.”
Lincoln’s advice is simple: “Go to the conservation. It’s really fun to do all kinds of stuff.”
More than a competition
When Wilson first spotted the Jr. Ranger Rick competition on social media, she thought it sounded like something Lincoln would enjoy. She never expected it would turn into months of voting, community support, and a fifth-place finish nationally. Still, she says the experience reinforced something her family already believed.
“We have one planet,” Wilson says. “As you learn, you take some of those fears away and start thinking about what we can do to show care to our planet.”
For Lincoln, the journey may be over, but the adventures aren’t. There are still birds to identify, trails to explore, and creatures to discover. And that’s exactly how he likes it.
