By STEVE SHERK Jr.

Special to The Era

Most of my life, everything I pursued in the outdoors was all by myself. Whether hunting or fishing, I’ve been more of a loner than one who hangs with the crowd.

However, some of the best relationships I’ve established over the years have been through sharing my passions with others in the outdoors.

To me, I’d rather be sitting around a campfire with a group of people versus the dining table.

The beauty of nature brings so much more to the environment of the gathering when you spend time with others outside. Even when I’m engaging with others in the outdoors, I’m also listening to birds sing and admiring the landscapes.

My favorite way to bond with a friend or family member is by taking a hike together. These days we all mostly communicate with our loved ones via text messaging or social media, but there’s something special about going for a hike with someone that you care about.

A few years ago, my family and I were blessed with a house that is a little more secluded than our last one. We finally have some porches to sit on and some scenery to admire. Nevertheless, I have a hard time sitting on the couch connecting with my family. Cell phones and television seem to distract all of us from sharing quality time together in the house.

Thankfully, my family and I love to spend time together on our porches surrounded by the forest.

Even though there’s so much to see and take in outside, we seem to have far less distractions when we gather around on the front porch. Our bonding is stronger and deeper when we relax outdoors versus inside. Even though our eyes and ears are tuned in on the visuals and sounds of Mother Nature, we still find the best connection outside the walls of our house.

All of my best friendships I have developed with people have been through hunting and fishing. Even those with whom I am closest in my immediate family tend to be hunters and fishermen. The memories we have together created a bond like I have with nobody else. Many of the best days of my life were with friends and family, in the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

I think of the relationships I have had with dogs throughout my life.

The dogs I became closest to were all ones I spent a ton of time with in the woods. I used to love taking my dog, Duke, for hikes, and he loved it even more than me. I can’t imagine our relationship being nearly as strong if we hadn’t spent so much time outdoors together. Now he’s too old and weak to go for hikes, but we still both love riding back roads together, enjoying the scenic views and seeing wildlife.

At least for me, I find a stronger spiritual presence in the outdoors than anywhere else. The outdoors is the closest we will get to heaven while on this earth. I believe every living thing we see outdoors, whether it’s plant life or animals, was made by the hand of God. The natural design of God’s creation connects our spirits together in a profound way when we share time there with friends and family.

Enjoying life with our loved ones in the forest is as good as it gets on this earth. It’s a little touch of heaven, in my opinion.

As temperatures get warmer and we get into summer, I greatly look forward to spending time on the boat with friends and family. The Allegheny Reservoir is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in Pennsylvania. It creates the perfect boating experience to enjoy with others. I love the combination of water and mountains — and that’s exactly what the Allegheny has to offer.

I’m also thankful to live in a place surrounded by forests and recreational activities. I’m not quite sure life would be as good anywhere else, especially somewhere with more buildings than trees.

The outdoors has given me countless blessings throughout my life, but the friendships and experiences I have shared with loved ones in the woods and on the waters have been the best.