Alexandria, Va. — The Future Fisherman Foundation has $200,000 available in grant funding for physical education teachers to incorporate fishing and boating education into their curricula, offering up to $5,000 in individual grants to help foster active leisure lifestyles and ethical attitudes about the outdoors. Grant monies can be used for fishing and boating equipment, field trips, curriculum materials and other resources to assist instructors in carrying out fishing and boating education. Since its inception in 2003, the Physh Ed Grants Initiative has supported 152 schools in 39 states with more than $700,000 in grants.
The only N.C. school to apply for and receive a grant in 2006-07 was Cartoogechaye Elementary School at Franklin.
The program was developed through a partnership between the foundation, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education).
“We’ve had wonderful success in exposing and engaging children all across the country to fishing and boating,” said Michael Bolinder, executive director of the Future Fisherman Foundation. “Fortunately, enthusiastic teachers and committed partners have enabled this program to introduce students throughout the nation to fishing and boating.”
In addition to grants, sponsoring organizations bring access to a nationwide network of outdoor educators, conservation groups and youth organizations that offer a variety of versatile fishing and boating education programs that can be tailored for teachers’ specific interests and needs.
“The Physh Ed Grants Initiative is an excellent way to bring students close to aquatic resources while learning about life long sports like fishing and boating,” said Jim Stewart, manager of Education and Outreach for RBFF.
The partnership also provides training, access to discounted fishing gear and equipment and ongoing guidance from experts. A mandatory training workshop for grant recipients provides instruction on angling and boating skills, safety and ethics; basic equipment set-up and maintenance; fish and their habitat needs; taking part in community conservation efforts; developing partnerships for access to fishing and boating sites; and recruiting long-term mentors for children.
Applications must be received at the foundation office on or before March 2, 2007 at 5 p.m. All applicants will be notified in mid-May on the status of their grant proposals. The training workshop for grant recipients will be held in mid-July to help prepare teachers for the upcoming school year. Partners can also link teachers with state outdoor education professionals and community groups with tried-and-true fishing and boating education programs to help in the application process and ensure program success. The foundation staff is also available to provide technical assistance to complete the grant application.
To obtain grant application forms or for more information on the Physh Ed Grants Initiative and other angler education programs and services, please visit www.futurefisherman.org or contact PE grants coordinator Jesse Graytock at jgraytock@asafishing.org or 703-519-9691, extension 224.
The Future Fisherman Foundation is the fishing recruitment and education arm of the American Sportfishing Association, the sportfishing industry’s trade association.
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