IGFA Passports to Fishing Update

The IGFA Passports to Fishing (P2F) program has recently completed its second program year and, although in-person education efforts slowed during this time due to the on-going pandemic, the IGFA has successfully distributed 45 kits to five new countries and 16 new states within the US over the past year. We are excited to see the P2F program beginning to ramp up as the COVID-19 numbers ease, and here is an update on how we plan to continue this program in the coming year.

Boy Scouts of America

As part of the IGFA’s partnership agreement with BSA, all Scouts that earned either their fishing or fly-fishing merit badges are counted towards the IGFA’s initiative to teach 100,000 kids to fish.

To continue expanding the relationship between the IGFA and Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the IGFA reserved 22 kits to be distributed to all trained BSA Area Leads. These kits will continue to assist their communities and Certified Angling Instructors (CAIs) through trainings, public fishing events, and fishing-related merit badge programs. Even though in-person education efforts slowed, trained CAIs were still able to help over 13,000 Scouts earn their Fishing-Merit Badge and almost 2,500 Scouts achieve their Fly Fishing-Merit Badge. As part of the IGFA’s partnership agreement with BSA, all Scouts that earned either their fishing or fly-fishing merit badges are counted towards the IGFA’s initiative to teach 100,000 kids to fish.

New Programs & Events

Much of the past year was spent planning new events and programs, and networking with supporters to facilitate in-person events when conditions were safe to do so. New locations where P2F kits were sent include the Philippines, Western Samoa, Uganda, and Okinawa, Japan. These locations are bringing youth angling education to their communities for the first time and have plans to launch their first official events in early 2021.

The IGFA Passports to Fishing Kits were a hit at the Reeling In-Junior Anglers event in South Australia.

The first event in 2021 took place on February 20, 2021 with Reeling In-Junior Anglers in South Australia. More events are on the calendar for 2021 as conditions improve in certain geographical regions. However, all events will continue to practice precautions and safety guidelines to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all who would like to learn how to fish.

To date, the IGFA P2F program has helped educate nearly 6,000 young anglers since its launch in March 2019. Furthermore, the program has been instrumental in the IGFA’s initiative to teach 100,000 children to fish around the world, with the current tally standing at nearly 67,000 children! We hope to reach our goal of 100,000 kids by this time next year, so stay tuned!

To view other Passport to Fishing locations, check out the IGFA’s website at https://igfa.org/igfa-passports-to-fishing-kit-locations/. To get involved with this program, please contact IGFA’s Youth Education Manager at [email protected].

The IGFA thanks all our supporters and angling educators around the world!

 

Thank you to the IGFA Partners that believe in the IGFA Passports to Fishing Program.