IGFA Surpasses 70,000 for the 100,000 Youth Education Initiative

The IGFA has surpassed a significant milestone of 70,000 children reached since the inception of the 100,000 Youth Education Initiative.

In 2019, as the IGFA approached its 80th anniversary, the organization established a goal to teach 100,000 youth around the world to fish to help build the next generation of educated, ethical, and accomplished anglers. Despite the issues presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts and events have never stopped as we found creative ways to continue educating young anglers around the world. With the IGFA’s programs reaching roughly 20,000 children over the past year, we have recently surpassed a significant milestone of 70,000 children reached since the inception of the program!

International Passports to Fishing clinics have been on the rise in 2021 with events occurring in Australia, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Romania, South Africa, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and Western Samoa.

The IGFA was able to bring back its signature Summer Fishing Camp and will be hosting Fishing Day Camps throughout the school year on school-closure days. Other national programs returned and increased their in-person education efforts, especially the Boy Scouts of America, a partner organization with a shared goal of teaching children how to fish responsibly and ethically.

IGFA was able to bring back its signature Summer Fishing Camp and will be hosting Fishing Day Camps, and will be increasing its in-person education efforts, especially through the Boy Scouts of America.

International Passports to Fishing clinics have been on the rise in 2021 with events occurring in Australia, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Romania, South Africa, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and Western Samoa. Earlier this month, the Passports to Fishing program was a major attraction at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show where 82 young anglers went through the stations and fished at the show. To date, the IGFA Passports to Fishing program has delivered 135 kits to 33 different countries reaching more than 8,000 young anglers around the world!

Earlier this month, the Passports to Fishing program was a major attraction at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show.

Another avenue that has helped us make progress toward our 100,000 kids initiative is building online angling education resources. The IGFA’s Intro to Fishing course continues to receive positive feedback from the course participant who have joined us from 25 different countries. Additionally, seeing a need for virtual education during the pandemic, the IGFA created Virtual Fishing Field Trips that offer experiences to learn different angling techniques and visit diverse aquatic habitats. These field trips have helped reach anglers in 11 countries in just one year and plans to expand field trip locations are in the works.

IGFA created Virtual Fishing Field Trips that offer experiences to learn different angling techniques and visit diverse aquatic habitats.

The IGFA also continues to network with other like-minded organizations that share the goal of educating new environmental stewards. Without the support from our sponsors like Plano Fishing, Rapala, Bass Pro Shops, Fish Florida, the Fleming Family Foundation, Julian Robertson, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, and West Marine Blue Future, the IGFA would not be able to develop these programs and execute them globally. And, without the patience, persistence, and dedication of angling educators and members of the IGFA’s international network of supporters, young anglers around the world would not have these amazing opportunities to learn the basics of recreational fishing and engage in this beloved sport while enjoying the great outdoors.

 

Thank you to our sponsors!