Kids Fishing Charities - Passing On A Fishing Legacy...

[FloridaFishinFool]

I hope this is the right place for a post like this one...

 

As a kid growing up I was always appreciative of the time the older guys gave to me to teach me about fishing; starting with my father and other family members, fishing was a passed down legacy that continued on into Boy Scouts where I really began to get into fishing more and more since some of my scout troop leaders were avid bass fishermen and it was always a part of our scouting experience.

 

Now I am that older guy, and all those old timers who took the time to hand to me their fishing legacy and knowledge and experience are now long gone, and their passed down fishing legacy is now mine to pass on to my own sons, now ages 1 & 3.

 

But even before they were born I was already involved with passing fishing on to other generations through some of Florida's wonderful kids fishing charities. While it is nice to fish competitively in small local tournaments with my peers, one of the most rewarding things I could ever do is to donate my time and fishing equipment directly to kids fishing charities so that disadvantaged kids and troubled kids, and kids without father role models to have an opportunity to experience fishing through the efforts of organizations that specialize in passing on our universal fishing legacy.

 

So for me, I love to repair old reels. It is just a fun thing to do. So as I travel around central Florida, I visit garage sales, thrift stores, pawn shops looking them over for equipment for me personally, and I am always keeping an eye out for fishing equipment that I can fix up and donate to churches or non-profit fishing charity organizations who will use this equipment to put it into the hands of kids to hopefully light that spark inside of each of them to make fishing a part of their lives.

 

I have even gone so far as to take kids from broken homes out fishing with me, but this is a difficult thing to do with a heavy liability, so I much prefer to repair and donate equipment and work through various charities that teach kids about fishing from shore or docks which is the most common method for such charities.

 

So I just wanted to mention this and see if any of you were already donating money, time, or tackle to kids fishing charities, and if not, I hope a post like this might inspire some of you to look into it in your area, and let's help some kids learn a love of fishing.

 

When you see the smiles it can put on kids faces, how can we not give to them what has been given to us?

 

I hope some of you will find some local kids fishing charity organizations and give a little bit of your time, money, or tackle and pass it on...

[FloridaFishinFool]

I should mention that one of the side benefits to collecting up a pile of fishing tackle geared for kids that is being repaired and prepared for donating is that my own sons love to play with rods and reels, and this charity tackle is perfect to keep them busy with so they are more prone to leave my more expensive rods and reels alone!

 

So I let my boys play with the charity tackle all they want to so they can learn about it and how to use it, and I don't have to worry about them breaking any of my rods and reels, but that is not always the case. One of my boys recently knocked over a brand new $150.00 rod onto a tile floor shattering the tip guide insert rendering the rod useless for now.

 

But it does help to just hand the boys rods and reels they can play with that I don't have to worry about them abusing or breaking. But it is amazing how fast they can "lose" a reel inside the house. I am missing two right now that I can not find.

 

And as my boys grow up I will involve them in sharing fishing with other kids and hopefully pass that on to them as well.

[HoosierHawgs]

That's really neat! Is there a place around you that can replace guide inserts for your rod?

[FloridaFishinFool]

That's really neat! Is there a place around you that can replace guide inserts for your rod?

No, not insert that I am aware of. But I will replace the tip guide very soon.

 

It just sucks to have a brand new rod ruined like that before ever even using it. I only discovered it when I was threading line through it. What a let down. It still has the plastic over the cork handle and tags still hanging off of it. Oh well. Lost that new feeling before even using it.

 

So how did you get into fishing? And at 16 from you picture it looks like you are doing quite well. How long have you been fishing?

[Dwight Hottle]

In case you did not see this pinned at the top of the page.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117976-open-challenge-to-all-fishermen-and-women/

[FloridaFishinFool]

In case you did not see this pinned at the top of the page.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117976-open-challenge-to-all-fishermen-and-women/

 

I am fairly new here and have not read through all of the threads yet so I had not seen that one. So thanks for the link, and any sharing of fishing with kids is a good thing!

 

I hope you won't mind, and that no one will be offended if I opt out of your challenge offered here because I am already involved in donating at the local level here in Florida as I have a hands on approach to it right here in my own community with the less fortunate kids in this area.

 

With my post above I was just trying to encourage forum members to look into their own local communities and maybe contribute locally in their area, not meaning to divert any forum members away from your efforts at doing the same thing through Tackle The Storm Foundation based in Ct.

 

I think every child everywhere deserves the same opportunities and I really prefer a hands on approach at my local level. I find it very rewarding, and it is even better when I can include my own children too.

 

Is it OK to mention some of the organizations here in Florida who are involved in teaching kids about fishing?

[HoosierHawgs]

Started fishing @6 w/my dad! Old Zebco rod and reel and a johnson beetle spin!

[roadwarrior]

Is it OK to mention some of the organizations here in Florida who are involved in teaching kids about fishing?

 

Assuming they are nonprofit and unaffiliated with any particular company, that would be fine.

[FloridaFishinFool]

Assuming they are not profit and unaffiliated with any particular company, that would be fine.

 

 

What if the 501C non-profit is sponsored by big name corporations? Bass Pro and Berkley sponsor some along with many other companies, but from what I can tell the non-profit is a stand-alone company.

 

Are you saying if the non-profit is legally connected to a for profit company like a spin-off then no, but if only sponsored by a company would be OK? I am kind of confused on this point as I am probably not qualified to make the determination of whether or not they are or are not tied to a company. And how would I find this information out?

[roadwarrior]

I guess what I mostly mean is that anything associated with your favorite Chinese reel company would not be acceptable.

If you are not trying to push the envelope, almost any charitable organization would qualify. We have made a tremendous

impact on Tackle The Storm and will continue to support that program. However, that commitment does not diminish any

other legitimate organization.

[FloridaFishinFool]

Here is a fantastic non-profit that I don't think is tied to any for profit companies:

 

FLORIDA FISHING ACADEMY

 

http://www.floridafishingacademy.com/Home.html

 

     Our Mission

 

•  Teach children a healthy lifestyle and constructive hobby

 

•  Guide kids away from drugs and violence

 

•  Engage youth in the fight to preserve Florida’s fragile natural resources

 

•  Introduce youth to the marine industry as a potential career path

 

Our Purpose:

 

Florida Fishing Academy (FFA) is a nonprofit, 501©(3) organization formed in 2006 for the purpose of empowering at-risk youth with positive life skills, alternatives to destructive or antisocial behavior and a sense of responsibility for shaping the world around them. FFA uses fishing as a vehicle for delivering these lessons, weaving effective life, environmental and social skills into a youth-oriented, hands-on sports angling curriculum.  

 

We have, to date, helped to change the lives of thousands of deserving children. We are constantly testing and improving our course and have recently adopted a proven, evidence-based life skills curriculum at the high school level, under the widely touted LifeSkills Training Program model, which has been shown to dramatically reduce drug use, risky sexual behavior and unsafe driving habits. 

 

We strongly believe that engaging Florida’s children in the joys, responsibilities and opportunities of ethical angling is a critical mission. In Florida, fishermen outnumber golfers 2-to-1, and 85 percent of freshwater anglers start fishing at age 12 or younger. And yet, in South Florida — the fishing capital of the world — a local landscape filled with gymnastics camps, Little League programs, chess teams, golf classes and adult fishing clubs has no school-based fishing curriculum for kids. There is little if anything out there that engages children — tomorrow’s anglers, boaters, marine biologists, charter boat captains and environmental stewards — in fishing as a sport and livelihood taught in a comprehensive fashion or that involves them in the effort to preserve our fragile marine environment. That’s the void we strive to fill one child at a time.

[FloridaFishinFool]

https://www.flseagrant.org/about/

FLORIDA SEA GRANT

Florida Sea Grant is a university-based program that supports research, education and extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida.

 

We are a partnership between the Florida Board of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Florida’s citizens and governments. Our extension, education and outreach programs are done in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension and coastal counties of Florida.

 

We tap into the research expertise of more than 800 coastal and ocean scientists at the state’s 16 major universities and research laboratories, and we are an integral part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, one of the nation’s leading Land Grant universities. Our 20 extension agents live and work in coastal communities. They have a breadth of experiences and tremendous trust from their local residents as reliable sources of science-based information. Our seven statewide extension specialists lead highly relevant programs including seafood safety, boating and waterway management, coastal conservation law, aquaculture and fisheries management.

 

Our vision and mission

 

Florida Sea Grant envisions a future where people use our coastal and marine resources in ways that capture the economic and social benefits they offer, while preserving their quality and abundance for future generations.

 

Florida Sea Grant’s mission is to support integrated research, education and extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida

Campus Coordinators

Each Participating Institution in Florida has a designated campus coordinator who serves as a liaison with faculty and students at their campus and Florida Sea Grant, conveying information about funding and other opportunities. Campus coordinators also participate in the development of goals and objectives in ourstrategic plan, which is updated every four years and guides priorities for research, extension and education. Campus Coordinators also periodically are asked to serve on review panels for student scholarships.

 

Any academic institution in Florida that offers bachelor’s or advanced degrees related to coastal and ocean issues may join Florida Sea Grant as a Participating Institution. All that is required is appointment of a Campus Coordinator and agreement to our standard terms of awarding funds. These include:

• a cost share of 0.5 non-federal dollars for each 1 federal dollar awarded on research grants
• standard federal overhead on biennial and regional research grants, but no overhead on Program Development (PD) grants less than $10,000, or on fellowships or scholarships.

Regardless of whether or not a Florida academic institution is designated as a participating institution, its faculty and students are fully eligible to apply for and receive funding for research projects and scholarships from Florida Sea Grant.

[FloridaFishinFool]

http://www.bassfishingkids.com/about-us.html

 

Tournament Director, Gary Waingrow and Co-Tournament Director Bob Newland, started this trail in 2002, with the help and sponsorship of Bass Pro, and the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division. These tournaments are open to all the kids in the community and are orientated towards education of the sport in a fun family atmosphere

 

The trail consists of eight tournaments a year. Six tournaments are qualifying events, one tournament as a wildcard. The top-qualifying anglers will then compete in the kid’s classic.Participants are divided into two divisions, Small Fry for ages up to 10 years old, and Juniors for ages 11 thru 17.

 

At the end of every tournament, Medals and prizes are awarded. At the classic the grand prizes are awarded in an honorary ceremony. We are proud to award each year a Pond Boat with a Minn Kota Trolling Motor and Interstate Battery & Hummingbird Color Fish Finder.

 

This year has been our best so far. We have had an average of 40 - 60 kids competing in all qualifying tournaments. We expect this number to continue to grow. In 2008 Palm Beach County l came on board.

 

If you would like to start a kids trail in your area or you interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact our founder and Tournament Director, Gary Waingrow.

 

Bass Fishing Kids, Inc. is a 501©(3) Non-Profit Organization.  FEIN #94-3442622

[FloridaFishinFool]

I guess what I mostly mean is that anything associated with your favorite Chinese reel company would not be acceptable.

If you are not trying to push the envelope, almost any charitable organization would qualify. We have made a tremendous

impact on Tackle The Storm and will continue to support that program. However, that commitment does not diminish any

other legitimate organization.

 

I was just wanting to post some of the great kids fishing non-profits here in Florida, some of which I have donated to, and to help spread the word to help these organizations meet their desired goals. I have no affiliation to any of them other than donations. A forum like this is a great place to spread the word about the good works of many types of organizations devoted to helping kids. I hope this is not considered as pushing any envelope or breaking any rules.