Youth sport fishing and aquatic resource education programs received a boost this week with the awarding of $50,000 in grants from the Fish and Boat Commission.

Fourteen organizations received Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education Grants from the PFBC to develop or expand programs that teach fishing skills or educate participants about waterways and the organisms that live within them. A total of 60 applications were received from sportsman's clubs, school districts, community groups and county agencies, requesting more than $225,000.

“Research shows that good, well-structured education programs lead to kids increasing their interest in fishing more, improving their skills, and helping them build a greater sense of aquatic stewardship and outdoor ethics,” said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen. “The volume and quality of grant applications we received shows there’s clearly a demand for this type of programming in Pennsylvania. The challenge is to provide the resources necessary to re-engage youth in outdoor activities. Succeeding in this effort is critical to the future of sportfishing and building a more environmentally connected citizenry.”

The grants were awarded to:

· Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Erie County, Fishing & Learning Youth (FLY)- $2,025. This program will work with community groups in Erie serving inner city youth as well as Presque Isle State Park. FLY will introduce youth to the art of fly fishing and aquatic entomology while gaining knowledge and skills they can use in the continuation of a life-long recreational activity.

· Seneca Valley Senior High School, Butler County, Aquatic Ecology Experience - $4,540. Funding will enable the school to purchase equipment for an interdisciplinary program integrating aquatic ecology and sportfishing. The fishing segment of the program is designed to assist students with skills, techniques, fish biology and etiquette and follows the curriculum of the Commission’s SMART Angler Program.

· Jersey Shore Senior High School, Lycoming County, Boating/Fishing Club - $4,979. Funding will be used to equip a fishing and boating club in the high school. The club will provide an opportunity for high school students to develop skills in boating and fishing.

· Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, Dauphin County, Aquatic Resource Stewardship Education Program - $3,490. The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will use the funding to purchase equipment and materials for the Aquatic Resource Stewardship Education Program; designed to introduce K-12 students from the tri-county region to studies of watersheds, stream and river ecosystems.

· PA Council of Trout Unlimited, Statewide, Trout in the Classroom & First Cast - $5,000. The grant provides PATU with funding to administer a grant program to individual chapters. PATU is requiring 50% match, thereby doubling the amount invested in these education efforts. Funds will be used by local TU Chapters to establish six Trout in the Classroom programs and six First Cast youth fishing clubs.

· Cowanesque Valley High School, Tioga County, Fishing for a Healthier Environment - $3,085. This program will purchase equipment and materials for a school-based fishing and aquatic resource club. The club will also be involved in public angler education programming offered in cooperation with Hills Creek State Park. Equipment will also be used in a variety of other educational programs as well as by the Tiadaghton Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

· Indiana Area School District Horace Mann Elementary School, Indiana County, Fishing and Boating for ALL - $2,881. Funding will enable the district to equip a program designed to introduce and promote an enjoyment of the outdoors for students of all ages within its physical education curriculum. Boating and water safety will also be taught. The program will provide hands-on experiences to learn skills, understanding, knowledge of fishing and boating as well as developing leadership skills.

· East Stroudsburg High School, Monroe County, Fishing the Delaware - $1,700. The school will use the funding to equip, develop and deliver an interdisciplinary educational unit taught to approximately 150 students in grades 10-12. The unit will provide aquatic ecology, sportfishing and boat handling training, while showing the connection between aquatic resources and the recreational opportunities provided.

· City of Erie School District Irving Elementary, Erie County, Irving Fishing Program - $2,092. The district will design a program to expose inner-city students in third through fifth grade to fishing. These students will also participate in a weekly science course offering interdisciplinary lessons integrating and relating biology, chemistry, ecology, geology and math skills, while building their reading and literacy skills.

· Schuylkill County Conservation District, Schuylkill County, Sweet Arrow Lake Park Fishing & Boating Skills - $5,000. Funding will enable the County to purchase equipment for fishing and boating programs at the Park. As a result, County staff will provide on-the-water training on sport fishing. The County will also conduct boating safety programming, using PFBC boating safety education programs, as well as teaching paddling skills. Fishing and boating equipment will also be made available through a loaner program at the lake.

· Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Luzerne County, From City Streets to Valley Streams: Exploring the Wyoming Valley’s Aquatic Resources - $3,300. Funding will support a new cooperative program with the Luzerne County Conservation District and Wyoming Valley’s low-income housing authorities. The program will introduce sportfishing to nearly 200 of the Wyoming Valley's urban city youth who live in 10 different housing apartment complexes. Involved in the partnership are the Luzerne County Housing Authority, City of Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority and the City of Nanticoke Housing Authority.

· National Wild Turkey Federation Wheelin’ Sportsmen, Statewide, I Can Fish 2! - $3,390. The NWTF will develop and deliver additional angler education programming for children with disabilities. Also includes leader training and support. The program will be done in cooperation with and at PFBC barrier-free access areas.

· West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife Association, Chester County, Downingtown East Fishing Club - $3,525. Grant funds will assist the club in developing a fishing club in Downingtown East High School. The club includes interdisciplinary instruction in science as well as ecology. Programming will be offered in-school as well as out of school.

· Center Area School District Education Adventure & Exploration Club (EAE), Beaver County, Center Middle School Aquatic Exploration - $4,992.78. Funding will enable the district to expand its Education Adventure and Exploration Club (EAE). Equipment and materials will be purchased to provide members with exposure to stream conservation techniques, recreational boating and water safety, and aquatic resource education.

The Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education Grants program expands on the Commission long-standing commitment to youth education. The Commission spends about $450,000 annually on such efforts.

Currently 45,000 children receive the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletter from the PFBC four times a year; 8,000 Pennsylvania school teachers have been trained and use the PFBC’s aquatic education curriculum; and more than 400 PFBC fishing skills instructors teach thousands of children in angling basics annually. In addition, the Commission provides equipment and support for 39 free tackle loaner sites statewide.

Re-engaging youth in fishing and conservation is a major point of emphasis for the PFBC. Statistics from the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Recreation show that in 1980, 26 percent of the Pennsylvania kids aged 6-15 fished. In 1995, that number climbed to 41 percent, but dropped to 35 percent in 2000.

For more information, visit the Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education Grants program.

6/9/2006