Teaching Kids to Handle a Rod and Reel

"Hooked on Fishing—Not on Drugs” is a fun program with a serious purpose.

The state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will host a two-day training program Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29 in Waretown for adults who work or volunteer at community or faith-based centers for youths called “Hooked on Fishing—Not on Drugs.”

It’s as positive as its name.

Aimed at teaching adults how to offer an ongoing or year-round program in youth fishing, conservation and aquatic education, “Hooked on Fishing” trains the teachers, who then, in turn, can introduce young people to the sport of fishing. As a corollary, the students learn about the Garden State’s waterways and how to use them for positive outdoor recreation activities.

The program is flexible enough to be tailored to fit most organizations.

Participants in this training will be responsible for delivering the program to youth from beginning to end over the course of 22 or more sessions. Organizations participating in the program are eligible to receive additional professional training in conservation education and angling skills as well as in-kind support for program materials and supplies including subsidized educational field trips. Supplemental training can be requested to teach skills such as fly-tying and kayaking.

There is a $40 nonrefundable deposit to hold a space in the program and to off-set training costs.

The training program will take place at Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education. 7th Street and Navajo Drive in Waretown.

To register and for more information, visit njfishandwildlife.com and link to HOFNOD on the New Jersey home page. There, you’ll find a form to complete and mail back, with check payable to Lighthouse Centers, to: Liz Jackson, HOFNOD Coordinator, NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife, 605 Pequest Road, Oxford, NJ 07863, Attn: HOFNOD Training 4/2018.

Once your registration is received, a confirmation e-mail will be sent. Those interested also may contact Liz Jackson, program coordinator, at 908-637-4125, ext. 122, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Read more Table Hopping articles.

By submitting comments you grant permission for all or part of those comments to appear in the print edition of New Jersey Monthly.

Required
Required not shown
Required not shown