Youth Education Report

RODS AND REELS FOR KIDS

Bill Browne and members of the Silverton Fishing Club are assisting the JCAA Youth Education Committee with providing “Rods and Reels for Kids.” It’s a new program that we are introducing to children at risk for the 2010 fishing season. Members of the Silverton Club offered to repair recycled rods and reels for children that would like to start a fishing club and learn about fishing in a public school environment. The “Rods and Reels for Kids” program will begin at the start of the new year and continue through National Fishing Week at schools in Monmouth and Ocean County. The program will include learning materials from the Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs program and there is also a $5,000.00 grant for schools to submit. The program is designed to teach students about healthy outdoor activities as an alternative to drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence. Students will learn about aquatic conservation, biology of a fish, water safety, how to maintain and repair fishing equipment and New Jersey rules and regulations. If you would like to donate used rods and reels that the Silverton Fishing Club can recycle, please phone Bill Browne 732-929-9112. If Mr. Browne is not available please leave a message and he will return your call. Rod and reels can also be delivered to Mr. Browne’s home address: 907 Nevel Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. We already received donations from the Shore Surf Club and Peg Gleman, NCMS/ISAC Committee Member. The JCAA Youth Education Committee will instruct educators and students about utilizing HOFNOD printed materials and assist with the development of organizing a school fishing club. If you would like to help with this worthwhile project, please send me an e-mail with HOFNOD in the subject line at gkucharews@aol.com.

FISHOPEIDA

What is Fishopeida? It’s a great place to learn how to fish. If you visit this website you will learn the following: Fishing Safety and Glossary, Conservation, Species Explorer, Bait/Equipment, and Preparing your Catch. This web page has it all. You will learn everything you need to know about fishing by clicking on the learning tabs. You can also learn how to tie knots and how to reel in a fish without losing your prize catch.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN WRITE

Take the challenge and enter the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's 2010 Native Fish Art and Writing Contest. It’s for students in grades 4 through 7 and they are invited to learn about New Jersey's native fish by participating in the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's 2010 Native Fish Art and Writing Contest. The purpose of this annual contest is to encourage children to learn about New Jersey's native fish species and their biological requirements, including the habitats they need to survive. Participants must write an original short story about a year in the life of a native New Jersey fish of their choice and draw a scene from their story. The story must include accurate biological and ecological information about the fish, such as its habitat needs, food preferences, and behavioral characteristics. The drawing must have a finished size of 8.5 x 11 inches and can be done in acrylics, pencils, watercolors, oil, oil pastels, crayons or ink. Creativity and originality in both the story and artwork will weigh heavily with judges, as will the use of proper grammar, sentence structure and spelling. First and second place winners from each grade level will receive a fishing rod and reel and a certificate. First place winners will also receive a youth membership in Trout Unlimited. All winners will be invited to the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center on the Opening Day of Trout Season, April 10, 2010 for a special luncheon, awards ceremony and the opportunity to fish for trout in the Pequest Fishing Education Pond. Entries for the contest must be received no later than Friday, March 5, 2010. Sponsorship for the Native Fish Art and Writing Contest is provided by NJ Chapters of Trout Unlimited. For more information, see http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishart.htm .

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.

[News Contents] [Top]