Building the Next Generation of Ethical Anglers: IGFA Fishing Camps Expand Reach and Impact

The IGFA’s Fishing Camps experienced significant expansion this summer, reaching more youth in the United States and the Bahamas. Not only have our camps grown to reach more participants, but the impact of each camp continues to increase, with campers showing greater confidence in skills such as tying fishing knots, casting a line, and understanding ethical angling practices.

Camper confidence in fishing skills increased by an average of 44% across all multi-day camps this summer, based on pre- and post-surveys. Notably, the 3-day camps in Abaco, Bahamas, for local kids in the Cooper’s Town community, and Title 1 students from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers of Broward County, Florida, US, saw the highest growth in confidence, with increases of 48% and 103%, respectively! Our angling educators and camp counselors work hard to build confidence in these young anglers, while also sparking a growing interest in recreational fishing, encouraging them to fish more often after camp. This summer, that interest grew from 44% of campers who fished more than five times in the past year to 60% of campers who now plan to fish five or more times in the next year.

Here’s a recap of our immersive fishing camp programs this summer, reaching more than 330 youth through our 3- and 5-day programs and another 369 youth in 1-day camps:

Starting with the return of the Kids Fishing Camp in Abaco, Bahamas! Historically, this camp ran from 2014 to 2017, with IGFA staff and representatives facilitating activities in collaboration with Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS), a Bahamian non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of Abaco’s environment and promoting conservation through education. After several inquiries from kids on the island asking when the camp would return, the IGFA partnered with FRIENDS to bring it back in 2024. This time, the camp worked with local kids from the North Abaco community of Cooper’s Town. Twenty youth participated in the 3-day camp, where they learned the basics of spin fishing, received an introduction to fly fishing, and discovered the importance of conservation, specifically mangrove and bonefish conservation. These kids not only honed their fishing skills but also gained a deep appreciation for protecting their natural resources. To top it off, they experienced going out on flats boats with local Bahamian guides to catch snappers, barracuda, and bonefish! The IGFA extends its thanks to Friends of the Environment and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for their partnership in this camp—the smiles on the campers’ faces said it all!

Next, we head to New Jersey, US, where the Ocean County Reel Into Fishing Camp celebrated its tenth year. What began as a fishing clinic in 2014 has now grown into a 3-day camp and expanded into Burlington County, which just completed its second year. Ocean County had 25 participants with a waitlist of more than 20 students, while Burlington County had 23 participants, all attending on scholarships. Both programs were rich in activities, with participants hearing from local field experts, visiting Viking Yachts and Rutgers marine science facilities, and enjoying days on the water aboard the Bingo II or Avalon Lady, where they caught—and even tagged—fish. One participant, Abbi, had her tagged summer flounder recaptured in Barnegat Bay!

Participants raved about the program. One camper, Max L., was so inspired that he purchased a brand-new rod and reel from the marina store as soon as he got back. By the end of the third day, campers’ confidence in skills like “Tying a Fishing Knot” and “Setting up a Fishing Rod” had skyrocketed.

Both programs continue to grow, thanks to the support of IGFA Representative Gene Nigro, who started the Ocean County program ten years ago, and a strategic partnership with the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension of both Ocean and Burlington Counties. Gene was honored with a commemorative plaque for his work in youth angling education. The IGFA also extends gratitude to Dennis Levitt for funding the Ocean County program in honor of his father, IGFA Trustee Emeritus Michael Levitt, and to Viking Yachts for supporting the Burlington County program through the William J. Healy Foundation.

In Florida, US, two inaugural scholarship camps were held in partnership with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension of Palm Beach County, thanks to a generous donation from Nick Smith, a newly inducted member of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. The spring program had 16 participants, and the summer program had 25, most of whom were new to fishing. This 5-day program introduced participants to the basics of fishing, including fish anatomy and dissections, followed by field trips to freshwater and saltwater fishing locations, and concluded with a trip aboard Living on Island Time, where they fished in the intercoastal and along the reef edge. Many participants reported increased confidence in fishing, and some, like 7-year-old Enzo, even discovered a newfound passion—he skipped the swimming portion of a field trip to keep fishing on the Juno Pier, where he caught his first bluefish!

While offsite camps have expanded, the IGFA’s Summer Fishing Camp at the IGFA Headquarters (IGFA HQ) in Dania Beach, Florida, US, had another successful year. Beginning on June 11, 2024, the camp featured eight weeks of programming, including themes such as “Sharks!” and “Advanced Angling.” Over 260 campers attended, learning essential fishing skills like tying knots, rigging rods, practicing catch-and-release techniques, and fishing every day. Some caught their first-ever fish during camp! The summer ended with a special week featuring fly-fishing lessons from IGFA Representative Jan Forszpaniak, as well as a memorable cobia catch during “Advanced Angling” week, part of which was donated to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission study.

Thanks to generous donations from the Fleming Family Foundation and Dennis Levitt, we were able to award 65 campers scholarships to attend IGFA HQ Camp. The Fleming Family Foundation also supported a 3-day scholarship-based camp for 26 kids from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers of Broward County, US. This program, working with Title 1 schools, provides academic and personal enrichment for students and their families. We also offered 1-day camps in collaboration with the Marine Environmental Education Center in Hollywood, Florida, engaging another 369 youth in marine science and recreational fishing. Many of these kids had never been fishing or visited the coast before, making the increase in confidence even more significant. Campers were provided with basic rods, reels, and tackle boxes to continue their fishing journeys.

The IGFA would like to thank Fish Florida for their continued support, providing rods, reels, and tackle boxes for all our Florida-based camps. This donation equipped hundreds of young anglers and will help encourage them to continue fishing for years to come.

Summer remains our busiest time of the year, as we educate and engage hundreds of youth through recreational fishing. We are excited to expand these programs in 2025, and we couldn’t do this work without the dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, corporate partners, and like-minded organizations who work alongside us to build the next generation of ethical and conservation-minded anglers.

 

Lastly, thank you to the following program supporters: