Forestville, WI–On Monday October 24th 2016, Nick Schmal, Executive Director of the Future Angler Foundation (FAF) will provide an overview of how the partnerships with National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) members and other agencies and organizations work towards “Creating New Anglers.” His talk, Creating New Anglers Through Future Angler Foundation Partnerships, is part of a concurrent session entitled: Partners: Better Together scheduled during the 12th Aquatic Resource Education Association (AREA) bi-annual conference and training, October 23-27th at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The AREA conference and training program can be viewed or downloaded at the following weblink: http://areanet.org/page-18119
Schmal will present how agencies, industry, other non-profits may be able to partner with NPAA members in your community with the help of FAF, to grow the sport of recreational fishing through education and outreach. The educational component is critical for the future of the sport because equipment alone will not catch fish or provide the knowledge to sustain aquatic conservation support.
FAF shares the session with two other educators including Edward Shaw, a Park Interpreter from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center. Shaw’s presentation entitled: Angling for Partnerships, Pro-staffers and Participation focuses on Michigan’s new Outdoor Skills Academy (OSA) that rewards qualified volunteer instructors with “pro-staff designation” while taking the load off your staff. In addition, he will emphasize that offering of clinics to your state with volunteer pro-staffers has increased interest and participation in angling and other outdoor topics.
The final segment of the session entitled: Outdoor Adventures – Fishing as a Physical Education (PE) Course, by Scot Mclure, describes The Outdoor Adventures program taught in over 275 schools in 14 states reaching over 27,500 students annually. As a P.E. credited course, secondary school youth are introduced to angling. Casting, baits, tackle, aquatic habitats, ethics and regulations are taught to public school students who have never been introduced to angling. Mclure, an Education Coordinator for Outdoor Adventures/ Dallas Texas Ecological Foundation, will explain how to get Outdoor Adventures started in your area. Outdoor Adventures can be taught in any secondary school across the country.
The AREA, a non-profit, is organized for educational purposes. AREA members include representatives of State, Federal, industry, fisheries and educational professionals involved in aquatic resource education programs. The mission of AREA is dedicated to promoting, through sound educational practices, stewardship and responsible use of aquatic resources, fisheries and habitats to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.
