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Youth Education Report
by Greg Kucharewski
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association December 2006 Newsletter)
2006 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD
JCAA MEMBER CLUB YOUTH FISHING PROFILE
The JCAA Youth Education Committee presented the Hudson River Fishermen's Association the 2006 JCAA Youth Education Award for their promotion of the "Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs" program and organizing a number of youth fishing events for children and their families. We plan to display their impressive nomination packet at the JCAA dinner/dance. During 2006, over six hundred inner-city students participated in fishing trips from fishing piers, boats, and along the shore. The HRFA also developed a youth angler program that supports the following activities: Explorer 2000 program, Leonia High School Rod and Reel Club, Hooked on the Hudson Program, Take A Kid Fishing, HRFA Family Day Outing, Youth Surf Fishing Competition, Charter and Party Boat Fishing, Donated Funds for College Scholarships, and incorporated HOFNOD into all their events. The amount of volunteers that are needed to make this happen is unbelievable, but members of the HRFA pool their resources to make fishing a reality for children that might never have an opportunity to experience saltwater fishing. A lot of hard work goes into writing grants, working boat shows, preparing presentations, scheduling boat trips, communicating with schools, and organizing the HRFA Youth Angler Volunteers. Explore 2000 students will be featured on "Classroom Close-up" New Jersey. The show will air on Monday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday a 7:00 a.m. on New Jersey Network, December 25 and 30th. Learn how students from Explore 2000 aboard the Atlantis Princess participated in a fish tagging demonstration and caught Fluke, Bluefish, and Sea Robins. Again, congratulations to the HRFA and their Youth Angler Volunteers. Let's see if they can beat their record and teach seven hundred Youth Angler students in 2007.
SPORTSMEN SHOWS
The Jersey Coast Anglers Association's, Youth Education Committee, will be featuring special youth education seminars at upcoming sportsmen shows. Participating merchants at the hunting and fishing expositions will offer special promotions at their booths for children attending the Jersey Coast Anglers Association's, Youth Fishing Seminars. Parents are also welcome to attend.
HOFNOD CERTIFICATION GRANT
Take the time to get certified as a “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” presenter. Certification Grants will be available to JCAA member clubs. The following criteria must be met for a JCAA member club to sponsor a person/s for HOFNOD Certification: 1.) The member club must be in good standing with JCAA. 2.) Fiscal year dues must be paid. 3.) Only two members from your organization can be certified per fiscal year. 4.) Your club president’s signature vouching that the grant will be spent as described in the request. 5.) Complete the HOFNOD Certification Grant Application. Please e-mail Greg Kucharewski at gkucharews@aol.com for more information and training dates.
STEP OUTSIDE
As fishing starts to slow and after your fishing equipment is cleaned and ready for next season, you might want to try another fun outdoor activity. During the winter months I start to feel closed in and there is only so much inside stuff I can handle. The past few years I started to explore other outdoor activities such as target shooting, hiking, and winter distance fly casting in the snow. Check out the Step Outside web site at www.stepoutside.org for some great ideas.
If you would like to help with our youth education efforts and offer some of your time to teach children the joy of fishing please phone 732-785-9278 or e-mail Gkucharews@aol.com .
HAVE FUN
TAKE A KID FISHING