JCAA

      

Youth Education Report

by Greg Kucharewski

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association July 2001 Newsletter)

JCAA FLUKE TOURNAMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the JCAA membership volunteers, contestants, sponsors, and merchants that supported the JCAA Fluke Tournament.  Funds from the Fluke Tournament help provide needed drug awareness literature, fishing equipment for disadvantage youth, and aquatic education materials to promote environmental stewardship.  The JCAA Youth Education/Drug Awareness program has grown over the years and each year we teach as many as 5,000 children and their families, the joys of fishing.  Our youth fishing program is highly recognized by the State of New Jersey and we support other state programs by demonstrating the use of partnership materials such as; the Future Fisherman Foundation’s “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs program, National Fishing and Boating Week, Pathways To Fishing, and the Elk’s “Hugs Not Drugs” program. 

During the month of June, 2001, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee provided National Fishing and Boating Week information to over 600 hundred families and plans are already underway to purchase NFBW materials for June 2002. 

NATIONAL FISHING & BOATING WEEK

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee hosted a youth fishing clinic at the Fort Monmouth School Age Service Center during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-10, 2001.  Over forty children participated in workshop and learned how about crabbing at the Jersey Shore and basic spincasting techniques.  Dr. Eleanor Bochenek, Rutgers Marine Scientist conducted the Jersey Shore crabbing demonstration and taught children.

A group of disadvantage teens in Monmouth County, NJ learned about saltwater flies and how to make the most productive synthetic saltwater fly patterns.

All children that participated in JCAA sponsored National Fishing and Boating Week events received a NF&BW Certificate of Accomplishment and Future Fisherman Foundation “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” materials.

LANES MILL SCHOOL READING RALLY A GREAT SUCCESS

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s, Youth Education Committee was invited to attend the Lanes Mill School, Brick, NJ Reading Rally, on May 17, 2001.  Greg Kucharewski presented a seminar about job opportunities, youth fishing clubs for schools and the award winning Future Fisherman Foundation’s  “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” program.  Over 60 students participated in the HOFNOD program and all students received a goody bag filled with fishing literature, complements of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association.  A book entitled “Young Peoples Guide To Saltwater/Freshwater Fishing” by Dr. Eleanor Bochenek was donated to the school library for students to use as a reference for marine fishing projects.

CAMPERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING TO FISH

The Future Fishermen Foundation’s "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs," and Pathway to Fishing program will be introduced to campers attending the University of Toledo’s National Youth Sports Program.  The award winning programs teach children about using sportfishing as an alternative to drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence. 

My sister and a colleague made the following statements in a local Toledo newspaper: "For a lot of these kids, five weeks is their whole summer and NYSP provides fun activities for a portion of their summer vacation.

"We want to teach youth a life-long leisure activity," said Stacey Deckard, the camp spokesperson.  Along with learning basic fishing techniques, campers will learn about fish biology and environmental conservation.  NYSP will stock Walden Pond in Ottawa Park so campers can practice catch-and-release sportfishing.   The camp is free for children between ages 10 and 16 and it caters mainly to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The word on the street is, the newly enrolled NYSP campers are ready to do some serious fishing, but not without hearing some big fish stories from New Jersey.  The JCAA Youth Education Committee assisted with the development of a lesson plan that will feature a drug awareness message at each Pathway to Fishing station.  Here are a few examples:  Station 9 - Detecting Bites; How do drug dealers get you hooked.  Station 1 - Biology; Understanding the effects of drugs on the human body.

MANY THANKS

We thank Mr. Pat Scaglione, Owner of E-Z CATCH, crab traps for his generous donation of several new style crab traps that will be used to support JCAA Youth Education crabbing seminars.   It is caring merchants like Pat, that make a difference in our youngsters lives.

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.