For IGFA’s 80th anniversary in 2019, the organization set a major initiative to teach 100,000 youth around the world to fish with the concept of building the next generation of ethical and conservation-minded anglers. To accomplish this ambitious goal, the IGFA got to work creating online angling courses, forming strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations, and distributing Passports to Fishing “clinics in a box” around the world.
In-person efforts have significantly slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the IGFA noticed a spike in students learning how to fish online with the Intro to Fishing course. To date, students from 22 different countries have completed this extensive course. The idea with online education is to not only educate but to inspire young anglers and their families to get outside and go fishing. During the pandemic, there has been a rise in new anglers getting out on the water, purchasing fishing licenses, and participating in recreational fishing as it proves to be a perfect social distancing sport to enjoy the outdoors.
With the development of significant strategic partnerships between the IGFA and organizations from the Boy Scouts of America to the National Park Service and support from companies like Mercury Marine, Plano Fishing, Rapala, Zebco, etc., the IGFA has been able to expand its reach on a national level. Through the growth of the IGFA Passports to Fishing program, which began distribution in 2019, kits have been distributed to 25 different countries helping the IGFA further its international reach.
While we are very happy to hit the halfway point of our goal, there is still a lot of work to do to get to 100,000 kids. The IGFA is very thankful to all the volunteers and supporters of the IGFA’s youth education effort. We could not have done this without the incredible support, hard work, and tireless efforts we have seen in this collaborative effort to educate future generations of ethical anglers. Next stop, 100K!