#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Let Us Celebrate Your Dad This Father’s Day!

Amazing, wise, funny, charming, strong, loving, kind, crazy in the best ways: all words people have used to describe fathers to us this week. Now, we’d love to hear about the dad in your life.

Simply post a photo of your dad and tell us a little about him in the caption — did he teach you how to waterski? Or how to catch a fish? Or how to recite pretty much every line in Monty Python’s Holy Grail

Be sure to tag us and use the hashtag #BeOutdoorsWithDad. Not only will you get the chance to celebrate your father, you’ll also get the chance to win one of the items on our Father’s Day Gift Guide.

Post soon: all entries must be received by midnight on Thursday, June 7th.

Here’s a post about Amy H.’s dad, who inspires us by showing his daughter the thrill of adventure — and of facing your fears!

Father and daughter scuba diving with sharks

This Father’s Day I am especially thankful for my Dad, who introduced me to Scuba diving and is my favorite dive buddy. Looking forward to many more crazy experiences like this!!

                                                              — Amy H.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Nick B.

Your chance to win one of the items on our Father’s Day Gift Guide ends at midnight tomorrow, June 7th. All you need to do to enter our Father’s Day giveaway is to post a photo of your father in the outdoors  on Facebook or Instagram and tell us a little about him. Don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtag #BeOutdoorsWithDad. Need some inspiration? This post from Nick B. honors how his father taught him to love and respect the outdoors. 

Father and son stand in matching outfits

I want to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to my father Bob. This picture was taken during one of our first trips to the beach. My dad has taken me there so many times I’m not sure I could keep track. We have always shared a love for the outdoors, especially the oceans and its marine life. I remember one trip in particular where we helped rescue a pelican who had gotten a fish hook caught in his eye with the fishing line also going through the wing. That bird flew another day after we removed the hook and line. I have learned a lot from this man, with one of the most important lessons being that we need to take care of the outdoors and all living things that inhabit the planet. This picture is a great reminder of a time where all of those lessons began. I hope I can pass on all of my wisdom and good character to my son, as my dad has for me.

                                                    — Nick B.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Kaurie S.

Our own Kaurie S. shares a heartwarming post about growing up with two dads: her father and her stepfather. We hope you’ll share your own memory of your father (or fathers!) in our #BeOutdoorsWithDad contest. Nine winners will receive an items from the Father’s Day Gift Guide. The contest ends on June 7th, so we hope to see your stories and photos soon! 

 

Father holds baby daughter, who wears a bonnet

 

I was lucky enough I have two fathers growing up. My parents got divorced when I was little, and both remarried. At the time I didn’t understand why, and was very upset at first, but after some time I realized just how lucky I was! I had two wonderful homes, each with its own awesome dad!

My father is the one who instilled a love a nature in me. We would go camping every summer, hiking, canoeing, fishing… and I loved every minute! He would also take us to the beach, and I was always so impressed that he could name the rocks I picked up!

 

 

 

Girl throws autumn leaves on father's head

 

My step father wasn’t so into nature, he is a tech guy all the way! He played a big part in making me the nerd I am today. My enjoyment of video games, sci-fi, and New Wave music are all his doing!

Without these two men in my life, I truly don’t believe I would be the person I am today. From them I have learned so much (from basic car maintenance to every line in Monty Python’s Holy Grail), they have supported me at every turn, and I wish everyone was lucky enough to have two dads! Happy Father’s Day!

                              — Kaurie S.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Laurel M.

We hope you’ll love reading this memory from Laurel M. as much as we did. We also hope it inspires you to share a memory of your own father for a chance to win an item on our Father’s Day Gift Guide in our #BeOutdoorsWithDad Father’s Day Giveaway Contest.

Two young sisters fishing in pier

Since my father has no boys, he was intent on teaching his daughters many of the skills most dads imparted to their sons.

My sisters and I were subject to many an action film, the library of all things James Bond and some very “involved” softball coaching. But, what still stands out are the many times my father tried to get us interested in fishing.

Since we have a lake house, this makes perfect sense. Lake = water = fish. However, when you’re trying to teach three girls to fish, there are a few problems, and while you might think worms would be the worst of it, I think patience was the much bigger problem.

Fishing adventures tended to end shortly after the first or fifteenth, “I’m bored.”

Plus, whenever we did catch a fish, it was always a throw-away on the dumb side of fish life. (I can remember more than a couple holes or hooks already in its mouth.)

One day though, my father came in with some news.

“We’re going fishing!” he said.

Three collective sighs went around the table – especially since we were in Birmingham and nowhere near our lake house.

“This time is going to be different,” my dad said. “We’re going to a special pond. Guaranteed good fishing.”

Reluctantly, we got in the car, drove for about half an hour and came to a stop at the smallest “lake” I had ever seen. But sure enough, nearly a minute after I put my line in the water, I pulled out one of the biggest catfish I had ever seen.

Soon, I caught two more fish, and my sisters were just as lucky. “This is a special pond,” I thought.

“I think we should only keep three a piece,” my dad said later. “We’ve got to leave some for everybody else.”

I wanted to keep every fish I caught. (Boy, were they biting that day!) But my dad’s logic made sense, in addition to the fact that he was my dad and he made the rules, so we quickly agreed.

It wasn’t until we were leaving, and a man pulled my father aside to weigh and pay for our fish that I realized we weren’t quite at a “special pond.” We were at a stocked pond, and this little adventure was costing my father quite a bit of money.

It was an especially expensive outing when you consider that later that night, after my father had prepared and cooked a full fish meal (with a freezer full of catfish to spare), we each responded with, “I don’t like catfish,” and opted for mac and cheese instead.

That’s just my dad though – always going out of his way and doing his best to make sure that his girls were never disappointed. Whether it was making his daughters think of themselves as star fishermen, attending every softball, soccer and volleyball game or enduring hours at the mall, he always made us feel like he wanted to and enjoyed just being there.

                                                     — Laurel M.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Meagan B.

Thank you to our very own Meagan B. for this fantastic photo and story about her grandfather!

Have your own story? Be sure to check out our #BeOutdoorsWithDad Father’s Day Giveaway Contest.

Grandfather and granddaughter in lounge chairs on lawn

Throughout my childhood, my grandfather was really like a father to me. Because my dad’s work kept him gone most of the year, I spent all of my time with my Grandad. He took me on all the best adventures as a kid, from hiking around Lake Guntersville, to fishing, to boating and teaching me to waterski on Lake Martin. It was the hardest time of my life when I lost him in 2014, but I carry him in my heart every time I hit a trail, or get on the water. He was certainly the best father and grandfather anyone could have ever asked for.

                                                               — Meagan B.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad: Lia F.

Thanks to our very own Lia F. for this fantastic photo and story about her father. Share a memory of your own father for a chance to win an item on our Father’s Day Gift Guide in our #BeOutdoorsWithDad Father’s Day Giveaway Contest.

Father and young daughter smile in front of mountains

I love this picture of my dad and me, taken in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. When I was growing up, my parents would take the family to Colorado every other summer. I can remember getting so tired on the hikes we went on and my dad picking me up and carrying me without a complaint. My dad and I have always been best friends and he instilled in me a love for nature that I will carry with me always. I am so grateful for him and everything he did for me growing up to make sure I had a happy life. He is the best!

                                                       — Lia F.

#BeOutdoorsWithDad Father’s Day Give-Away Contest

 

Hiking, kayaking, grilling burgers  — what’s your favorite memory with your dad in the outdoors? Share it for a chance to win one of the items on our Father’s Day Gift Guide.

There are two ways to enter:

On Facebook:

  • Post a pic and tell us your favorite story about your dad in the caption

  • Tag us @AlabamaOutdoors

On Instagram:

  • Post a pic of your dad in the outdoors by 6/7/18

  • Tell us about him in the caption

  • Tag us at @AlabamaOutdoorsOfficial and use the hashtag #BeOutdoorsWithDad

Entries must be received by 12 PM on 6/7/18. We’ll repost 9 winners’ photos starting 6/8/18. Each of the 9 winners will receive one of the items on our Father’s Day Gift Guide.

By entering, you’re giving us permission to repost your photos and captions.