Wildlife officials say high gas prices might keep people closer to home this summer.

People's love, understanding and stewardship of the land could take a hit this summer.

Will the cost of travel keep people from enjoying Wisconsin's outdoors?

Will camping, fishing, boating and hiking trips be cancelled due to the soaring price of gasoline — which stands at about $4.00 locally?

A primary reason hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, berry picking and boating are so important to the outdoors is because engaging in these activities fosters stewardship of the land. It is much more important people develop an understanding of natural resources than it is to continually sell the idea that outdoors consumption is important to control increasing populations of animals, such as deer.

Those ecological management skills will develop through initial and continued engagement with the land, water and air.

"In simplest terms, the wealth of any country is a reflection of the natural resources it has," said Randy Stark, Department of Natural Resources chief warden and an advocate wanting everyone, particularly young people, have an opportunity to experience the outdoors.

"The next generation and future generations of people are going to be the stewards of natural resources," Stark said. "Anything that matters to us, the outdoors, the economy, the quality of life, the air, land and water, are all a subsidiary of the natural resources."

Stark believes there is nothing more important than instilling the importance of protecting the resources, but we have to understand them to protect them.

Wisconsin officials offered that opportunity last weekend when people were able to fish and visit state parks for free.

To some, enjoying the outdoors is paramount.

"I won't let it (gasoline prices) bother me," said Mike Koklas, of Milwaukee, who was camping in Governor Dodge State Park recently. "I love the outdoors too much to let gas prices stop me. It is what it is. It's the price you have to pay and compared to other activities, it's still pretty cheap recreation."

Stark agreed, saying "the challenge is to create opportunities in the future that are more local, that are a few minutes or a half hour away; closer to urban areas."

Don and Jessica Hazlett of Dodgeville put that to practice when they took their children, Lindsey, 9, and Thomas, 14, fishing at Cox Hollow Lake in Governor Dodge State Park.

"We might have gone to visit relatives in Ohio and fished there, but the price of gas has taken a big toll and instead of driving 550 miles, we drove five miles to the park," Don Hazlett said. "We caught some bluegills and largemouth bass, so the kids are having fun."

Kathy Gruentzel, park superintendent at Governor Dodge, Tower Hill and Blue Mound state parks, said she hasn't seen the impact on visitors, maybe because people made reservations in January.

"We're still filled up every weekend and I'd say we're beginning to see people make fewer trips but planning to spend more time during each trip," she said.