This is a great opportunity for students that want to experience the outdoors. There will be three exciting summer programs for teenage students. The programs will be held at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center just off Island Beach State Park in Barnegat Bay. Offered by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and its partners, the three sessions include the Sedge Island Fishing Experience, the Sedge Island Field and Research Experience, and the Sedge Island Field Experience.
For more information on each session, including dates, fees and application forms, visit this link.
News from Captain Lindsay Fuller: The Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association, Inc., in conjunction with Berkley Fishing, sponsors the BHCFA Junior Mate Training Program. This is a real job training program for teenagers who want to learn the necessary skills to become certified charter boat mates. This is the only program of its kind. While the 2015 Curriculum is not yet posted, the Registration requirements and Forms are posted and may be downloaded.
Registration for the 2015 Junior Mate Training Program will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the New Jersey Maritime Museum, Dock Rd at West Avenue in Beach Haven. Check the BHCFA website at www.BHCFA.com for more details, the requirements and forms for applying for the Program or call Capt. Lindsay Fuller at 609-685-2839 or e-mail him at captlindsay@fish-junebug.com.
This year, pre-registration WILL BE REQUIRED. Registration Forms including the Application and Parental Blanket Permission Form must be signed and sent to BHCFA with a check for the $25 Program Fee early enough that BHCFA has your application material at least a week prior to Registration Night. The mailing address for the paperwork is BHCFA c/o Capt. Lindsay Fuller, 204 West Rt 38, Moorestown, NJ 08057. Please make sure that your Application is complete and is legible. All Applicants need access to e-mail since that is how we communicate with participants. The e-mail address may be the Applicant's or a parent's.
Applicants will also be required to enroll in the recommended Coast Guard approved drug test program and have taken their "pre-employment" drug test soon enough that they can bring the results of that test to Registration Night. It takes about 10 days from the date you enroll to receive the "pre-employment" test instructions and then 3 weeks from the date of your drug test for the results to be received in the mail so don't wait until the last minute to enroll and to take your test. First year Applicants who show up without their drug test results will not be permitted to join the program this season. If you wait until Registration Night to register, the Program may have been filled for this season.
Tim Burden and Paul Harris spent time at Toms River South High School to present an introductory program about supporting a youth fishing program at the school. It was an initial meeting of their student fishing club that the NJBBA will support. Twenty students were in attendance including a NJBBA family member student.
The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee is asking JCAA member clubs/organizations for a listing of scheduled youth and family events that are going to be held by your club or organization during 2015. The purpose of this request is to alert other fishing clubs and organizations that would like to participate in your youth and family event. The JCAA Newspaper is a way to get the word out about what’s happening in your club. Use this opportunity to inform others about events your fishing club/organization is doing to promote fishing. The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee will support your event with Hook On Fishing Not On Drugs materials. Please contact Greg Kucharewski with your listing of youth and family events and don’t forget the Sportsmen Shows. Include your booth location, fishing club or organization that will attend. By providing this information, your fishing club or organization can improve membership and increase consumer participation.
The JCAA Youth Education Committee is accepting nominations for the 2015 Youth Education Award. It takes the support of many volunteers to bring successes to the fishing community but sometimes individuals and sport-fishing organizations go above and beyond to make the future of fishing better for our youngsters. Criteria: Promoting NJ Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs (HOFNOD), Certified HOFNOD instructors, number of fishing or aquatic education events, JCAA lending library usage, and creativity for promoting youth fishing events. There are many fishing clubs, organizations and individuals providing opportunities for youngsters to learn about fishing. Some go unnoticed. Please take the time to write (250 words or less) so they can be recognized. Submit your nominations in writing at the JCAA May meeting or email the JCAA Youth Education Committee, gkucharews@jcaa.org.
The JCAA Youth Education Committee will support the Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club’s Free Youth Fishing Seminar by providing a “Guess the Fish” activity. Members of the Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club hosts this annual event at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located in Union, NJ. The seminar is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2015 and it’s always a lot of fun for the youngsters.
Children and their families are welcome to come and enjoy a night of fun fishing activities and refreshments. We always enjoy working with the membership of this club because they are devoted to teaching the joys of fishing to our young people.
Help is needed for the Cumberland County NJ HOFNOD 4H program. Joe Haase needs two NJ HOFNOD Certified Volunteers to co-lead the program with him. He has about 50 or more youth interested in participating, an indoor meeting location on the water, and supplemental resources. His program is weekly and will begin April 2015. Please visit www.hofnodcc.org for more information and how you can assist with this program. If you can assist please phone 732-785-9278. To receive more information about becoming a NJ HOFNOD volunteer/facilitator, please contact Liz Jackson, NJ HOFNOD Program Coordinator, at 908-637-4125 x122 or by e-mail at liz.jackson@dep.nj.gov.
