Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the IGFA Fishing camp held?
The camp will be conducted in multiple cities, including Sunny Isles, Aventura, Dania Beach, and North Miami Beach.
- Sunny Isles – Sunny Isles Beach Gateway Center – 151 Sunny Isles Blvd, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
- Aventura – City of Aventura Community Recreation Center – 3375 NE 188th St, Aventura, FL 33180
- Dania Beach – IGFA Headquarter – 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004
- North Miami Beach – Ronald A. Silver Youth Enrichment Services Center – 17055 NE 19th Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33162
What activities will the campers participate in and what will they learn? Are campers required to have prior knowledge and/or experience with fishing?
Participants learn about fish biology, aquatic ecosystems, knot tying, fishing tackle, tying jigs, and much more! The weeks also include arts and crafts and take-home projects, interactive games, hands-on activities, guest speakers, field trips, and, of course, fishing! Field trips take campers to lakes, estuaries, the Everglades, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the ocean by shore and by boat. Campers do not need to attend one week before attending any other week. You choose the weeks your child will attend camp in any order you prefer. However, the Advanced Angling week is designed for campers with prior fishing knowledge, they are not designed for beginner anglers.
What are the qualifications of the counselors? What are their certifications? Have they had background checks and been fingerprinted?
Staff are certified in CPR and First Aid. Background checks and fingerprinting have been assessed for all counselors, instructors, and staff.
What is the ratio of students to chaperones?
IGFA keeps a 1:10 ratio (1 chaperone to 10 campers). We also have teenage volunteers and city staff to aid the IGFA instructors each week.
Does the camp take children offsite? If offsite, where?
The camp takes campers offsite Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday each week to various Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach County parks.
What is the cost of the camp?
The cost varies from city to city.
- Sunny Isles costs $225 per week for residents and $450 per week for non-residents.
- Aventura costs $550 for residents and $660 for non-residents. Aventura runs a 2-week session.
- The Advanced Angling camp in Dania Beach costs $525 per camper
- North Miami Beach charges $210 per camper.
Is a deposit required?
A deposit is not required. However, you must pay in full for your camp at the time of registration. Your child’s space will not be saved unless payment has been received in full.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes, a limited number of one-week, full-tuition Summer Camp scholarships are available to families. Please check the summer camp website page, www.igfa.org/camps, to download the application. Scholarships can only be used for regular camp weeks; they cannot be used for the Advanced Angling weeks. One scholarship per child.
What are the camp hours?
Camp hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday (unless otherwise noted on the field trip schedule). On Friday, campers are required to arrive by 7:30am.
Is this camp program co-ed? What are the ages for camp?
Yes, the IGFA Camp is for girls and boys ages 7-12 for regular weeks and ages 10-14 for the Advanced Angling weeks.
Does IGFA guarantee my child will catch fish?
No, the IGFA counselors and volunteers will try our hardest to help each camper catch fish each day, but we can’t control if the fish will bite.
Can my child keep the fish they catch?
Our camp is primarily a catch and release camp, so campers will not be allowed to take home legal catches. However, during Advanced Angling weeks, the campers are allowed to keep their legal catches. One of the activities during that week is to teach campers how to fillet and cook their catch.
Is transportation provided to and from the camp?
No, each child must be dropped off (and signed in) and picked up (and signed out) by their parent/guardian from camp each day.
What type of vehicle is used when traveling on field trips? Who drives the vehicle? Does it have seat belts?
Each city will provide bussing to and from field trips utilizing either school buses and/or charter buses and vans. The Advanced Angling Camp will hire a charter bus company to help transport the campers to and from field trips. A licensed bus driver oversees the bus. The Florida Statutes do not require buses to have seat belts (section 316.614, 3a1 and 2).
Is lunch provided, or do the campers need to bring lunch daily?
No, Campers must bring their own lunch (that does not need refrigeration or heating). EXTRA snacks and EXTRA drinks are necessary. Please provide your child with MULTIPLE drinks EACH day. Food delivery services, i.e., Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash, etc, will not be permitted. The IGFA will be utilizing large water jugs that campers can use to refill their water bottles. But please remember, we are an active camp that is primarily done outdoors, so it’s better to pack more than you think your child will need than less. The IGFA does now provide food or snacks for the campers.
What do the campers need to wear daily?
Each camper will receive an IGFA T-shirt on the first day of their camp session. Campers must wear an IGFA camp T- shirt DAILY. Additional shirts are available for $10.00 each. Campers can wear casual dress: IGFA T-shirt, shorts, sneakers, sunglasses, and a hat. Sunscreen, a light jacket, and a poncho are suggested every day. It is also a good idea to pack an extra pair of clothes, shoes, or sandals as we WILL still fish in the rain as long as the weather conditions remain safe. Some city camps will provide their own or additional shirts that can also be worn during the camp.
What do campers need to bring?
Parents/guardians will be emailed a “WHAT TO BRING” sheet for each week of camp, informing them of what campers will need to bring each day of the week. Campers may bring a small backpack with their belongings, but they are responsible for carrying their own gear. Please be sure to label all belongings with the camper’s initials. On Fridays, campers may need motion sickness pills: We suggest giving your child Bonine vs. Dramamine since Dramamine tends to make the campers sleepy.
Do the campers need to bring their own fishing equipment?
No, campers are not permitted to bring in any of their own fishing equipment. IGFA will provide all bait, tackle, and fishing rods.
What else should campers not bring?
Campers are not permitted to bring radios, money, toys, video games, or anything else that would be disruptive to the camp.
Can campers bring cell phones to camp?
Cell phones have become an inconvenience and, more importantly, a distraction in our camp. Because of this, the IGFA will be implementing the following cell phone policy. Campers will NOT be permitted to use cell phones during camp hours. This includes texting or answering calls from parents/friends, while on the bus traveling to field trip locations, or during downtime. Counselors will take camper cell phones if they are being used during camp hours. Any confiscated phones will be returned at the end of day at pick up and the counselors will have a conversation with the parents. If brought to the IGFA camp, cell phones must remain in the camper’s backpack in silent mode. If you need to contact your child during camp hours, please call/text the IGFA camp cell phone at (954) 849-8871.
Is there a nurse on-site?
No, the IGFA camp does not have a nurse on-site, but all the instructors are CPR and First Aid certified. If an injury occurs during camp, an “Ouch Report” will be filled out for the incident and a copy will be given to the parents/guardian. If the incident is major and requires hospital care, a parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. All parents are required to complete a Hold Harmless Agreement Form while registering their child to complete their reservation, which includes the health care information and emergency contact information.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
If health care is needed, the parent’s health care insurance policy would be primary and IGFA’s health insurance policy would be secondary. If a child were not covered by insurance, IGFA’s health insurance would then be primary.
What is our safety and regulations policy? What precautions do we practice to ensure safety? What is the protocol for safety when participating in water activities?
Camp counselors always carry a binder with them, which contains all camper emergency information and contact phone numbers. There is at least 1 chaperone for every 10 children, all instructors are CPR and First Aid certified. When on boat field trips, they’ll have personal floatation devices (PFDs) available.
What if a child becomes ill?
If your child is ill and cannot attend, please call the education camp cell phone on (954) 849-8871 and notify the staff so that we do not hold the bus or wait unnecessarily for your child. If the child becomes sick while in camp and participating in activities, a staff member would make the child as comfortable as possible and contact a parent/guardian for an early pickup. DO NOT bring your child(ren) to the IGFA camp if they are sick.
What if I need to contact my child or IGFA camp staff during camp?
If your child is currently attending a camp week, you can speak to a camp counselor during camp hours by calling or texting the education camp cell phone at (954) 849-8871. This phone is ONLY activated during camp hours from 9:00am-4:00pm Monday through Thursday and 7:00am-4:00pm on Fridays. Please do not use this number to register your child for camp.