On February 14, the Fish and Boat Commission announced Berks Nature, a nonprofit conservation organization serving Berks County, has been awarded a $10,000 grant that will be used to provide fishing-related programs for Hispanic families.

The grant was made possible through 50/50 matching contributions of $5,000 each from the PFBC and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation's George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund.

"Berks Nature is an outstanding organization that we're proud to partner with," said Rick Kauffman, PFBC District 6 Commissioner. "The Hispanic community contributes so much to our communities across Berks County, and we believe we can develop some really great recreational experiences for families that form a connection and an appreciation for fishing and conservation right here at home."

Programs that will be offered with the Vamos A Pescar ("Let's Go Fishing") grant funding include educational sessions on basic fishing instruction, fish identification, and cooking techniques.

Programs will be hands-on and on led by certified PFBC Fishing Skills Instructors and Berks Nature staff who are bilingual. Programs are tentatively scheduled in May, June, and July and interested participants should continue to follow the Berks Nature calendar of events.

Berks Nature is among 16 organizations in 12 states to be awarded grants totaling more than $100,000 through the RBFF program.

"According to the 2019 Special Report on Fishing, Hispanics are participating in fishing at a record-setting level," stated RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson in a news release announcing the national list of grant recipients.

"Better yet, members of this audience average more days on the water than their general market peers. This makes for a tremendous opportunity to engage the Hispanic audience and foster future generations of participants."

For more information on this program, visit the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund webpage.

(Photo: George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund.)

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[Posted: February 14, 2020]

2/17/2020