Youth Education Report

2007 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD

The Hi-Mar Striper Club will receive the Jersey Coast Anglers Association 2007 Youth Education Award for their continued promotion of family fishing and providing “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” programs at fishing events. The award will be presented at the JCAA Annual Sportsperson of the Year Award Dinner on November 18, 2007. This year the Hi-Mar membership worked on several youth fishing programs and assisted Jeff Johns with the Father Time outdoor fishing exposition for children and their families. Mike McLean, Youth Boat Trip Chairperson, organized several youth fishing boat trips. Mike and the membership of the Hi-Mar Striper Club work hard to promote youth sport fishing and protect our saltwater resources. Great job, guys!

KIDS FLY CASTING COMPETITION

Hey kids, now is the time to start practicing your fly casting skills. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to speak with Capt. Mike Corblies, National Director of American Fly-Fishing Schools (AFFS) about the latest addition to the AFFS "SIMUL-CAST" exhibit. AFFS is hosting a fly casting contest for kids ages 10-17 with lots of competitive fun and great prizes that participants will have an opportunity to win. The contest is for young anglers to demonstrate and improve their fly fishing skills and possibly advance to the National competition. During 2007, AFFS sponsored several local and regional competitions around the United States. The competitions are held at Sportsmen and Boating Shows and youngsters have a chance to qualify around the country before the National Finals take place in Florida, May 2008. Contestants compete by age groups of 10-12, 13-15, and 16-17 years old with prize winning champions from each group. An overall Junior Grand Champion will emerge from this contest and recognized for his or her accomplishments. So, get ready, the next New Jersey qualifier and semi-final will take place at the Garden State Sportsmen's Show, Raritan Center Exposition Hall - Edison, NJ on January 2008. For more information go to the following link:
http://americanflyfishingschools.com/homepage/kidscastingtournament.html

Word has it there is a young lady that can really cast accurately. So peruse the web site and look over the competition. Who knows, you may make it to the finals in Florida. Capt. Mike Corblies is doing a great job of getting young anglers interested in sportfishing and teaching them the art of fly-fishing. In my opinion, if you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Mike's fly-fishing classes you will learn more in one day than you will with others in a week. Mike pours his heart and soul into teaching youngsters about the art of fly-fishing. Capt. Mike and I go back a long time and as he put it, "Everyone knows we're not in this for the money. We just want to keep kids on the right path in life."

"TAKE'EM BOATING" 2008

The JCAA Youth Education Committee has offered to assist with the "Take'm Boating" program if the project funding is awarded. The program is a watershed education program entitled Boat & Bobbers in Barnegat Bay. It will consist of taking children on a boat, many whom would not have the opportunity to go on a boat. They will be exposed to an enjoyable and informative learning experience. Middle school students will receive proper instruction about the history of Barnegat Bay, pollution prevention, boater/water safety, and specious identification. Instructors supporting the program are, Lynette Lurig, Research Scientist, Division of Science, Research & Technology, Bureau of Natural Resources Science, (NJDEP) - Eleanor Bochenek, Ph. D, Marine Scientist, Haskin Shellfish Laboratory, Rutgers University - Harold Nebling, Principal Environmental Specialist, Division of Watershed Management, NJ DEP and the JCAA Youth Education Committee.

YOUTH FISHING ACTIVITY BULLETIN BOARD

The JCAA Youth Education Committee is invited to support the Keansburg Father Time indoor fishing stations on January 26, 2008. It's the third year Jeff Johnson; Keansburg Father Time will organize the event for the Bolger Middle School. As we get closer to the date we will have more about this event and fishing clubs that volunteer their time at the fishing learning stations. For more information on the Father Time organization, call Johnson at (732) 787-2007, ext. 2554.

OUTDOOR SPORTSMEN SHOWS

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association's, Youth Education Committee, will feature special youth education seminars at upcoming sportsmen shows. Participating merchants at the hunting and fishing expositions will offer promotions at their booths for children attending the Jersey Coast Anglers Association's, Youth Fishing Seminars. Parents are also welcome to attend.

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