|The future of fishing depends upon two things: that kids catch the passion for the sport, and that there are clean, healthy waters for them to fish 20 or 30 years from now. The Future Fisherman Foundation is committed not only to recruiting and retaining anglers, but to the stewardship of our lakes, streams and seas. That’s why we have partnered with Recycled Fish.
Recycled Fish is the national non-profit organization of “anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship, both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream.” In other words, they talk about on-the-water ethics like catch and release, selective harvest and cleaning up trash at our lakes, but they also talk about everyday stewardship – the stuff we put on our lawns or whether we have a low-flow showerhead – because, honestly, these things have just as much to do with the future of our fisheries as what we do on the water.
“We’re proud to stand with the Future Fisherman Foundation,” says executive director Teeg Stouffer. “The way they bring fishing into the classroom will have powerful effects on not just our sport, but on our environment and our culture. Kids need to be outdoors for their very development, and there is no activity better than fishing to undo the effects of ‘nature deficit disorder.’ Part of what they learn needs to be the mechanics of the sport, but we’re so proud that F3 is also teaching the stewardship side of fishing as well.”
To learn more about Recycled Fish, visit their website, www.recycledfish.org, where you’ll find a variety of excellent resources you can use in your programs.
Youth Fishing Programs More Important Than Ever
First the bad news. According to a new study designed and analyzed by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Stanford University researchers, today’s young people (ages 8-18) devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day (more than 53 hours a week). This is an increase of 1 hour and 17 minutes a day over the past five years, an increase driven in large part by ready access to mobile devices like cell phones and iPods. Young people now spend more time listening to music, playing games and watching TV on their cell phones (49 minutes daily) than they spend talking on them (33 minutes). About half of heavy media users say they usually get fair or poor grades (mostly Cs or lower), compared to about a quarter of light users.
One result of this is the fact that America’s kids spend only 4 to 7 minutes outside each day. That’s barely enough time to bait a hook and make one cast.
Now the good news. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment.
Why are we sharing all this? Just to reinforce the fact that your decision to work with F3’s youth fishing programs is important to all of us, and particularly to our kids. The time, effort and money you devote to working with youngsters is substantial we know, but the return on your investment is great indeed. Thanks for all you do.
The Foundation wants to thank the following donors who are helping us keep our mission alive through their generous support:
Future Fisherman Foundation
Director of Education