Beyond the Backyard

Bobby Warner with son Jackson started "Beyond the Backyard" after noticing few of his son’s friends were outdoor enthusiasts

When you think of lawyers, the first thing that comes to mind is a high-dollar suit, a briefcase, and a stern glare that aims to stick it to somebody for having wronged another.     Right or wrong, it’s the image most hold of those in the practice of law.   However, Charleston attorney Bobby Warner is an entirely different breed of cat.

Warner, an avid bow hunter and overall outdoor enthusiast, is known by most in the Charleston area for his passion for the outdoors rather than his presence in the courtroom.    Warner uses a series of highly produced television commercials that tout his time with his children in the outdoors rather than his ability to "get money for you."

"We got the folks who shot the Rocky Boot commercials to do those with my children and me at my farm in Ohio," said Warner on West Virginia Outdoors. "We’ve really created a series of public service announcements rather than commercials for the law firm." 

Getting children involved in outdoor pursuits is Warner’s passion.  He says that developed as his son started to get older.  He noticed that the friends of his five-year old son Jackson were not involved in the outdoors at all.   It troubled Warner so much that he decided to create an organization designed exclusively to focus on children and outdoor pursuits.   He calls the organization "Beyond the Backyard."

"It’s a charitable foundation that’s absolutely free for kids from newborns all

the way up to the age of 18," said Warner. "I think we all recognize the number of kids getting involved in hunting and fishing has dropped dramatically. Kids spend an enormous amount of time on computers and video games.   The whole goal is to get kids fired up about hunting, fishing, and camping on a year-round basis."

Children can sign up for the program on-line or over the phone at 1-866-WVWOODS.   They’ll receive a regular newsletter packed with age appropriate articles, games, activities, and projects all themed on the outdoors.    Warner suggests adults take note and get involved.

"When’s the last time you sat uninterrupted for more than an hour with your kids?"  Said Warner. "Every time you take your kids to a tree stand or a blind, you’re sitting there uninterrupted spending quality time with your family for three, four, or five hours at a time." 

Warner says those times are most vivid in his childhood memories and hopes others will build memories to cherish with their parents about outdoor pursuits.