Press Releases

ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 14, 2012) – Five boating, fishing and conservation organizations that serve kids and families have received education grants from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF). The organizations – the International Game Fish Association, the National Recreation & Park Association, The Club de Pesca Program, Living Classrooms of National Capital Region, and Fishing Education Foundation – were awarded the grants as part of RBFF’s ongoing boating and fishing educational outreach and youth engagement initiatives.

“This year we were able to give out five grants and are thrilled with the grantees chosen. All of their programs align with RBFF’s mission to inspire young people to get outdoors fishing and boating, and to conserve our natural resources,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Each of the chosen organizations has proven they can make full use of the grants as they develop opportunities to educate and engage with a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts who honor the angling and boating tradition.”

The FY 2013 National Youth Fishing and Boating Initiative grant recipients include:

• International Game Fish Association (IGFA) – Provides students and teachers with a variety of activities including fishing clinics, live touch tank demonstrations, safe boating practice sessions, and casting, rigging and knot-tying demonstrations. IGFA has firmly established its Outreach Education Program in Florida and will continue to expand the program to other states.
• National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA) – Brings resources to local communities through its park and recreation facilities across the country to ensure a future for active, healthy youth engaged in sport and the outdoors. NRPA will continue to expand its Take Me Fishing™ Initiative that builds and sustains fishing and boating programs with a focus on conservation.
• The Club de Pesca Program (of Centro Hispano of Dane County, WI) - Introduces Hispanic children (ages 6-13) and their families to fishing and boating this year through sustained conservation and aquatic education, as well as multiple on-the-water fishing experiences.
• Living Classrooms of National Capital Region (LC-NCR) – Engages underserved Washington, DC children and their families through on-the-water boating and fishing experiences throughout the DC Metro Area.
• Fishing Education Foundation (National Fishing in Schools) – Through a teacher-focused program, engages children and young adults (grades 6-12) through multi-platform, experiential learning centered on fishing, boating, aquatic resources, and conservation.

“RBFF reached nearly one million young people and their families this past year through its education programs, and we are so pleased to have these organizations on board for FY 2013 to represent diverse boating, fishing and conservation programs in our nation,” added Peterson.

A key requirement of RBFF’s National Youth Fishing & Boating Initiative includes introducing boating and fishing to minorities and underserved communities. Special consideration is given to programs that offer multiple on-the-water learning opportunities, encourage long-term involvement of participants, provide training for instructors, promote conservation and support existing RBFF partnerships. Additionally, the grants awarded cover a three-year cycle to encourage sustainable efforts with evaluation of progress achieved.

Since 2007, RBFF’s youth initiatives have engaged 2.5 million young people. For more information about RBFF’s education grant opportunities, visit RBFF.org.

About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™.

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