I'm with VTMatwood. Wow! Just Wow!
First let me say that there is a problem a duck is close enough for you to shoot with a shotgun but yet not close enough to identify. My son, an avid duck hunter (and an avid duck lover), can identify the type of duck, and in most cases the gender, well before it gets within shotgun range. I find that most serious duck hunters can do the same when it comes to identification. Secondly, it is because of duck hunters and their love of the species (not just for sport) that has been largely responsible for the turn-around in populations in many of the declining species. They have poured millions of dollars into research and protection of necessary duck habitat and nesting grounds. Banning duck hunting would result in a sever decline , and in some instances the extinction, of duck populations. Be careful what you wish for.
One thing I have learned from being married to a kindergarten teacher for 26 years, when someone is just starting down a learning path the most important thing is not the subject matter but the love of learning the subject. I have dabbled in photography for years (started off with a Nikon F body and a Vivitar 85 to 205 lens)but I have never had the proficiency that I see in other true photographers. I bill myself as an amateur amateur photographer. One day I hope to reach the level of full amateur. However, I was asked to provide a photography course to a group of young girl scouts because they were working on a badge and had some "interest" in photography.
In putting together a program, I realized that kids today don't typically develop an interest in photography from a DSLR or even a point and shoot camera. That comes later as they become more interested and serious about the hobby. They start with a cell phone. They don't have a lot of need to know about ISO, FoF, fStop, shutter speed, etc., because they have very little, if any control over those things. I explain to them that photography is one of those rare activities that truly marries the right brain with the left: the creative with the scientific. We start with the creative.
We talk about lighting and the differences it makes. We discuss lines and how they can impact a photo. We look at composition and rule o thirds and perspective. We discuss how a picture is "worth a thousand words" and what they want to convey when they take a picture. Then I send them out on a photo scavenger hunt to take pictures of things that demonstrate horizontal lines, things that demonstrate vertical line, things that show light and dark contrast, pictures of a group. Always I emphasize when they leave to "be creative"
Some of them capture really interesting pictures, some don't. They all come back excited about the pictures they have taken. Some will go on to become accomplished photographers. All of them will gain an appreciation of what goes in to getting a good photograph.
My suggestion, install a love in them for photographs. They'll reach their own level of competence after that.