Thirty-four schools in 20 states will receive more than $150,000 in grants to incorporate fishing and boating into physical education programs, part of a new program to promote these outdoor pastimes and foster healthy and active leisure lifestyles.
Launched earlier this year as a way to link with schools to bring the fishing and boating experience to America's youth, the National Physical Education Grants Initiative is sponsored by the Future Fisherman Foundation, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, American Association for Leisure and Recreation, and National Association for Sport and Physical Education. These partners advocate long-term mentoring and professional standards in the education programs they promote.
In addition, the Future Fisherman Foundation provides access to a nationwide network of outdoor educators and community partners, discounted equipment, special expertise, and curricula and other resources to assist instructors. The foundation will host a training workshop in Lewes, Delaware, August 15-18, 2003 to help teachers prepare to integrate fishing and boating into their curricula in the upcoming school year. Teachers awarded grants will learn all about angling and boating skills, safety, and ethics; equipment set-up and maintenance; fish and their habitat needs; how to take part in community conservation projects; and recruiting mentors from their communities.
"We've joined together to give physical education teachers everything they need to integrate fishing and boating into their classroom lessons and give their students safe and enjoyable experiences out on the water," said Future Fisherman Foundation Executive Director Anne Glick. "Along with fish, kids are bound to catch some enthusiasm about taking care of the outdoors."
"We're incredibly excited to be supporting this new effort," said Bruce Matthews, President of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. "Fishing and boating are America's favorite family activities. Helping schools incorporate fishing and boating into their PE curricula will create a lifetime of healthy family leisure. We're looking to grow this effort dramatically in the coming years!.
States awarded grants include Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, PENNSYLVANIA, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Partners plan to announce the availability of another round of grants this winter, with grant awards to be made in the spring of 2004. For more information on the National Physical Education Grants Initiative and other angler education programs and services, visit www.futurefisherman.org. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation provides a wealth of information on where to fish or boat, how to get started, how to obtain a fishing license, and local fishing and boating regulations on www.waterworkswonders.org.
The Future Fisherman Foundation is the angler recruitment and education arm of the American Sportfishing Association, the leading recreational fishing trade association. The Future Fisherman Foundation unites the sportfishing industry with a nationwide network of state outdoor educators, national conservation groups, and youth organizations, offering a variety of fishing and boating programs, equipment, and services to community groups and schools across the country. These efforts help people of all ages have safe and enjoyable fishing experiences that foster conservation ethics.