Press Releases

Washington, DC (February 1, 2012)  - Outdoor Nation, the youth-led movement championing the outdoors, and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced the winners of ten Take Me Fishing™ Awards. Take Me Fishing Awards invest in innovative ideas for increasing youth participation in recreational fishing and reconnecting youth to the outdoors. Funding is made possible by RBFF, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating.

“Fishing is one of the top gateway activities which often leads to participation in other outdoor pursuits,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re pleased to support these awards as a way to connect youth with the outdoors and create future anglers and boaters who will cherish and protect our outdoor spaces.”

Outdoor Nation awards a total of $25,000 to youth-led projects through a competitive application and review process. Ten projects from across the country were chosen for the Take Me Fishing Awards. Click here to view a description of all winning projects.

“Thanks to RBFF, we continue to empower young people to champion an outdoor lifestyle and become leaders in their communities,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation, the organization that oversees Outdoor Nation. “Take Me Fishing projects will increase the numbers of young fishing enthusiasts, engage diverse and underserved populations and provide valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”

The Take Me Fishing Awards are a continuation of the Outdoor Nation Youth Summits, which bring young outdoor leaders together in a weekend forum to address the growing disconnect between youth and the outdoors. During each regional Summit, young people discuss regional issues and brainstorm project ideas that strengthen America’s connection to outdoor spaces. In 2012, Outdoor Nation will host 10 Youth Summits in Austin, Boston, Los Angeles as well as New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Washington and Salt Lake City.

Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, RBFF, The REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.