Can a giant retail store and its catalog counterpart serve to enrich our communities and educate its customers: men, women, and children of all ages?

I think the answer to the first part of the question is probably yes. As to the education of members of our society both young and old, there might be some debate. The establishment of the super-store Cabela's in East Hartford, provides a good opportunity to ponder the notion that we can all benefit from the design and operation of what is essentially a theme park with free admission. This chain of approximately 40 retail outlets of hunting and fishing equipment strives to bring the natural world of the out-of-doors inside, presenting the appearance of a natural history museum all the while earning a profit for its shareholders. The company is based in Syndey, Neb., and was founded by Richard N. Cabela in 1961. Annual sales revenues are over $1.5 billion.

Cabela's has created a retail destination that can entertain and educate. This vast store fulfills the outdoorsman's need for fishing and hunting equipment appropriate to the myriad types of fish and wild game found throughout the world and in our own backyards. There are many retail sporting goods stores that provide hunting and fishing gear, but few have gone to the lengths Cabela's has in order to cultivate potential customers, their families, and friends.

People can learn through a variety of ways, and one of the best ways is personal experience and direct interaction. The first-time patron on entering the store will be surprised to see an actual small airplane hanging from the ceiling, and it's not everyday that we see one close up. Moving further into the huge store, the patron will see the large naturalistic lifelike displays of taxidermic animals from big game to small, most of which are native to our area. Although the animals cannot be touched, they can be examined closely as they appear in their natural habitat. The most exciting of the displays are the bull moose whose body size and antlers are gigantic.

Further into the store are the large aquarium exhibits stocked with native varieties of game fish in natural settings along with information on each species. In addition to those live fish, they have mounted trophy fish of many species throughout the fishing equipment area. Cabelas has teamed up with numerous organizations whose purposes are wildlife preservation and environmental protection as well as safe hunting and fishing practices. Anyone who is interested in working and supporting these organizations should contact the store salespersons.

This little travelogue is not intended to be a commercial for Cabela's, but I would like to see them succeed in our region because their store gives us a safe, secure opportunity to be amazed by nature in all its multitudinous variety.

And if, during your visit, you're feeling hungry, you can order a buffalo burger from the interesting menu of the Candlewood Café restaurant.

The location of the store is approximately 40 miles from Montville and is near Pratt & Whitney and Rentschler Stadium in East Hartford. Admission is free, and the store is clean and well-staffed. You may go to pick up some camouflage hunting gear or maybe a pair of warm socks, but be prepared to spend some time and perhaps learn something new about our natural world. Only time will tell if this retail model will have lasting benefits for shareholders and be instructive in the process.

Although it's not just around the corner or truly historic, I think it's worth the trip so you can judge for yourself.

PHIL HOUK IS A FORMER SUBMARINER, A UCONN GRAD, AND RETIRED FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN. HE CAN BE REACHED AT PLHOUK@CT.METROCAST.NET.