Forestville, WI:  A big challenge for many R3 agencies and organizations is effectively engaging the next generation of anglers. One solution is Into The Outdoors, a new innovative program that’s giving the entire R3 community free educational media that connects with today’s youth and empowers kids to make decisions about outdoor pursuits in three ways: online media, television, and peer-driven classroom learning.

This new program, Getting Families Fishing, has been created and distributed by the Emmy-winning Into the Outdoors Education Network through a partnership with the Future Angler Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing sportfishing across the country. Funded by a multi-state conservation grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the series is producing four new television programs and 16 angling education classroom videos. The series is already broadcasting on syndicated television across multiple states, plus airing the shows 24/7 on five national digital channels. PBS affiliates have even noticed the new series, and with the free national offering, have started airing the shows in some markets.

“With FWS funding, this entire program provides a one-two punch that gets kids interested in angling pathways,” says Dan Bertalan, Director of the Into the Outdoors Education Network. “Multiple channels on the entertainment network can get millions excited about fishing. And when they return to school this fall, teachers nationally will have free online access to the 16 classroom videos and hands-on angling lesson activities.”

Upon completion, the new television shows and classroom videos will feature kids fishing with family and friends in:

·  Florida Fishing Fun

·  Wild About Walleyes

·  Crazy for Crappies

·  Busting Big Bass

These full half-hour television shows are freely available to all state and federal agencies, R3 organizations and even corporations and other outdoor television shows via FTP upload. All of the classroom videos and angling lesson activities will be available on IntotheOutdoors.org, the national portal for outdoor education and entertainment. All media and educational content will also be featured on Kidsfishing.US.  

For more information, email intotheoutdoorstv@gmail.com or go to IntoTheOutdoors.org.