NFSP and AFFTA Form Partnership

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) is proud to announce partnership with the National Fishing in Schools Program (NFSP) in a cooperative effort to reach the next generation of fly fishers.  AFFTA has initially committed to provide matching grant funds for a minimum of 10 schools.  AFFTA’s investment of recruiting new participants to the sport will be employed in each school for a minimum of three years.

The NFSP fly fishing curriculum, "Cast A Fly, Catch A Student", which has been approved by the State Boards of Education, will enable middle school and high school students to earn Physical Education credits while learning to fly fish, tie knots, explore aquatic entomology, the importance of water quality and habitat conservation and more.

This program will also enable AFFTA-member retailers and manufacturers the opportunity to embrace their local schools by participating in the educational process. AFFTA encourages industry members to hop-on-board this opportunity and become involved:

            1.  Sponsor a school in your town and complement supporting funding from partners: AFFTA, the State Fish & Wildlife Agencies, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the Fishing Education Foundation.

            2.  Become certified as an NFSP Mentor and assist the school teacher(s) in teaching the next generation of anglers.

By engaging youth during the regular school day, NFSP directly reaches individuals who otherwise likely wouldn’t have the opportunity.  AFFTA and its membership can be there to help further those students interest and create lifelong participants in the sport.

“I’m very excited to make this alliance that offers the opportunity for our membership, and others, to work together to teach the next generation of Fly Fishers. Specialty Fly retailers have been waiting for AFFTA to produce an education program which would directly benefit them. While this is AFFTA’s initial alliance with NFSP, I believe this will grow beyond our pilot involvement.” said Ben Bulis AFFTA General Manager.

To learn more, please visit NFSP at their Booth, #106, at the upcoming IFTD Show in Reno, NV. 

And be sure to attend NFSP’s Roundtable Discussion, “HOW NASP PROPELLED THE ARCHERY INDUSTRY TO NEW HEIGHTS”, Thursday, August 16th, 2012, at 10:00.  Hear Tom Bennett, Founder of the National Archery in the Schools Program, and new Fishing Education Foundation/NASP Board Member, how archery doubled its participation since inception of this amazing in school program.