Physh Ed Continues to "Hook" Young Anglers

Teachers are encouraged to apply for fishing and boating education grants

One of the ways the Future Fisherman Foundation aims to reconnect today's youth with the outdoors is through the Physh Ed National Fishing and Boating Grants Initiative.

Physh Ed provides grants to kindergarten through grade 12 teachers to implement fishing and boating units in their classrooms.


For the 2009/2010 school year, the Foundation plans to offer individual grants of $2,500 to qualified teachers. Grant monies can be used for fishing and boating equipment, field trips, curriculum materials and other resources to assist instructors in carrying out fishing, boating and conservation education activities. Grant recipients also receive an intensive week of training in fishing and boating techniques.

"Physh Ed is an excellent way for school-aged youth to gain hands-on experience with fishing and boating activities they can enjoy for a lifetime," said Anne Danielski, Future Fisherman Foundation executive director. "The school environment encourages the integration of the hands-on elements that fishing and boating lessons offer into other subject areas such as science and math."

The Physh Ed program is funded by a grant from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). Since 2003, the Physh Ed program has awarded over $1,000,000 in grant funds to public, private and chartered institutions introducing over 85,000 students in 47 states to fishing, boating and conservation education activities.

The goal for the upcoming school year is to engage over 10,000 students nationwide in fishing, boating and conservation education activities.

Applications must be received electronically via e-mail on or before Monday February 9, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EST. To obtain grant application forms or for more information on the Physh Ed National Fishing and Boating Grants Initiative and other angler education programs and services, go to www.futurefisherman.org or contact Manager of Education Teresa Rodriguez at 703-519-9691, x224. Fulfilling grant applications is contingent upon the Future Fisherman Foundation obtaining grant funding for the Physh Ed program. All applicants will be notified of the status of their grant applications by March 30, 2009.