Endango: a good idea but not much of a challenge

Promoters recommended it as the perfect Mother's Day gift for the ecomom of 2009. Endango is the new board game in which kids 6 and older can save the planet while bringing back the family tradition of game nights, those sessions that used to happen before children were plugged into everything.

We first tried it for Earth Day, then revisited the box on Mother's Day proper. My friend, daughter and I each were assigned endangered animals in an environment (polar bear, wolf, chimp, etc.) and then we navigated the board, drawing cards, giving answers and watching human impact on ecosystems.

"Why is watching too much TV damaging to the environment," was the question on one card. More samplings: "True or false: A woman named Jane Goodall studied chimpanzees in Africa." Or, "What should you do with school papers you've shown your parents? A. Throw in garbage; B. Recycle; C. Drop on the floor in your room."

Are you rolling your eyes yet? My 11-year-old sure was. At one point I had to decide whether to throw out my leftovers or eat them. By consuming dayold food, my wolf moved one spot away from extinction.

Uh, OK.

Kudos to Elastic Earth LLC, the small business that made the game "to teach children about the environment through play," according to a spokeswoman. (My daughter noted the artwork on the board and cards was good.)

But sometimes trying isn't the same as achieving the overall goal. The fun-factor was missing because of the oversimplified messages.

"True or False: Wearing clothes that don't fit your big brother or sister is good for the environment."

At that point, we all decided to quit playing and go outside.

Events in the great outdoors

• The Boy Scouts' annual Kayak Fishing Classic is this weekend, and you don't have to be a scout or even enter the catch-and-release tournament to enjoy it. A series of free clinics and demonstrations are organized for Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, at the Southwest Florida Boy Scout Council Conference Center, 1801 Boy Scout Drive, Fort Myers.

Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. You can learn how to fly fish, tie knots, improve your shallow-water fishing skills, boost your hook- up ratio and get tips on live bait.

The action there complements the actual classic, which you can still enter if you like your fishing rod and kayak. Get details at www. kayakfishingclassic.com or call 936- 8072.

• If powerboating is more your thing, then attend a free session Thursday, May 14, at the Centennial Park boat ramp in downtown Fort Myers.

A team of local water cops and experts will be on hand to demonstrate how to shoot a flare gun, manage a marine fire extinguisher and use an inflatable life vest. Then you can have a chance to try — well, the first two items at least.

The event starts at 10 a.m. and will serve as a media kickoff to National Safe Boating Week, an annual gig designed to raise life vest-use from sea to shining sea over Memorial Day Weekend, which kicks off the boating season most places.

We, of course, are fortunate to have a 365-day season on boating. But this event is worth attending just because boaters rarely have a chance to see extinguishers, flares and inflatables do their things.

The Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force, the Marine Emergency Response Team and West Marine are changing that. For more information, call 533-8109. Some good boating safety info can be found at www.wearitflorida.com/index.htm.

• Reminder: Snook season is closed. Southwest Florida bridges are lined with anglers hoping to nab one of these savvy fighters. I spoke to an angler last weekend who had caught and released two and was telling good fish tales. No harm in fishing for them, just remember that releasing part.

It's a bit confusing because the season remains open till June 1 in Florida's Atlantic coastal and inland waters. But here on the Gulf coast as well as in Monroe County and the Everglades, the season closed May 1. Details are at www.MyFWC.com.

Betsy Clayton is a freelancer based on Pine Island and also is Lee County Parks & Recreation's waterways coordinator. Contact her at boatingbybetsy@yahoo.com.