Fish Florida
The mission of Fish Florida is to promote public awareness for marine fisheries and coastal habitats and to encourage their responsible use and protection. This is accomplished through clinics, classes, seminars, presentations, displays and other means designed to teach and promote responsible angling to Florida’s youth.
Fish Florida has generously supported the IGFA’s youth education programs since 2007 and has generously donated nearly $250,000 in grant funds and nearly 5,500 spinning rods and reels and tackle boxes.
Most of the IGFA’s local efforts have focused on youth angling education through fishing clinics and camps however, other programs such as in-house labs and outreach events have educated Florida’s youth on various environmental education topics ranging from fishing regulations to conservation and environmental stewardship. Every camper who has attended a week of the IGFA’s Fishing Summer Camp since 2007 has taken home a Fish Florida rod and reel and tackle box so they can continue fishing. That is over 5,000 children through the IGFA’s camp programs alone! Learn more about Fish Florida.
Friends of Rollo
Captain Rollo’s Kids at Sea program is based in California, USA and is named after Captain James “Rollo” Heyn of the famed long-range sportfishing boat Royal Polaris. The Friends of Rollo program is dedicated to sending kids on marine-awareness fishing trips and, since 1999, they have organized fishing trips for children, specifically disadvantaged, physically challenged, and at-risk youth, who might never have such an opportunity to get out on the water. The children are not only treated to a charter boat trip out on the ocean, but they are also provided with on-the-water ocean preservation education where they learn about coastal ecosystems.
Trips are requested from schools, nonprofits, and community organizations reaching about 5,000 youth each year. Every granted trip provides a full-day experience complete with lunch, beverages, and snacks, along with all necessary fishing equipment and expert instruction from the crew on a Coast Guard approved fishing vessel. Sportfishing landings and boats involved in the program are located at waterfront locations from San Diego to San Francisco.
To date, more than 130,000 children have been reached since this program began in 1999! Learn more about Friends of Rollo.
Boy Scouts of America
Established in 1910 by Lord Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, who was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002, the mission of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
With the merit badge program, Scouts can earn different badges once they accomplish the requirements of each field. In the field of angling, Scouts can earn their Fishing and Fly Fishing merit badges among others. Since 1911, when the Fishing Merit Badge (formerly known as the Angling Badge) was established, more than two million Scouts have earned this accomplishment! Nearly 53,000 Scouts have also earned their Fly Fishing Merit Badge since 2002, when this was established.
To expand training of Scouts in the field of angling, the IGFA and BSA collaborated in developing a program to train the BSA’s Certified Angling Instructors (CAIs). The purpose of this new program was to build a national cadre of volunteer teachers capable of providing quality angling instruction to Scouts and particularly those Scouts wishing to earn the Fishing and Fly Fishing Merit Badges. Since 2006, more than 1,500 CAIs have been trained nationwide! Learn more about BSA Fishing.
The IGFA is honored to continue working with these organizations and many others around the world to build new generations of responsible, ethical anglers. It takes a lot of work and time, but this work is crucial to ensuring the future of our sport.
The IGFA is partnering with respected leaders in youth angling education
whose curriculum and programs align with the vision and mission of the IGFA.
