03-05-2008, 06:10 PM
Interested young anglers from across Pennsylvania are invited to register, beginning immediately, for the Bass Anglers Conservation School -- for students with a passion for fishing and a thirst for warm-water fishery knowledge.
The school will take place Sunday through Thursday, July 13-17 on Lake Perez at Penn State's Stone Valley Recreation Area in Huntingdon County.
"We are proud to again join this cooperative educational effort giving angling youth a solid foundation in warm-water ecosystems, their management, and how they affect black bass and bass angling," said Michael DeBerardinis, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). "Participants will improve their stewardship skills, leave the school better-equipped to serve as leaders in conservation and have a heck of a lot of fun learning."
The five-day, four-night program will include sessions on fishery biology, fisheries management and habitat improvement, boating safety, fishing skills and techniques, fish-and-boating law enforcement, fisheries and conservation careers and tournament angling. Other conservation-related and hands-on activities are planned.
Students will learn from experts and professionals in various conservation fields from across Pennsylvania and the nation. Instruction will be geared toward youths who already possess some basic outdoor skills and fishing experience but want to further develop those skills and learn more about bass angling.
"Excellent angling programs have helped create not only better anglers, but also better citizens," said Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Doug Austen. "Research clearly shows that good, well-structured youth fishing programs like this help kids increase their skills, fish more and build a greater sense of aquatic stewardship and outdoor ethics."
The Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School is a cooperative effort by DCNR's Bureau of State Parks, Pennsylvania Bass Federation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Penn State and the Marsh Creek Bass Club.
"The camp is a combination of nonstop, hands-on, fun-filled activities from boat safety and basic angling skills to fish biology and habitat management," said Bass Federation Conservation Director Bill Reichert. "Learning fishing skills from a dozen volunteers and introduction into aquatic science by professional staff offer the students insights into opportunities to become conservation and environmental leaders."
Twenty students will be selected to participate. Students are encouraged to seek organizational sponsorships through sporting, community or civic groups to cover the $200 enrollment fee.
The application and enrollment process for students ages 14-17 continues through April 30. Applicants must submit a one-page essay addressing "What fishing means to me; the importance of conservation and why I want to attend the school." A letter of recommendation from a teacher or close associate is also required.
Enrollment applications and more details can be obtained through the Fish and Boat Commission's Web site (www.fish.state.pa.us). Click on "partners & links," "conservation programs," "Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School" and "application." Or phone Bureau of State Parks education specialist Spring Reilly at (814) 625-9369.
"¢FUNDING FOR BOATING FACILITIES: The Fish and Boat Commission is encouraging county and municipal governments interested in the planning, acquisition, development, expansion or rehabilitation of public boating facilities to apply for funding through the Boating Facility Grant Program.
The program is designed to help local governments provide or improve recreational boat access facilities in their communities that are open to the public. Private businesses, non-profit or not-for-profit organizations and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding but are encouraged to partner with local governments for funding.
Applicants can seek grants for site acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion and major rehabilitation of recreational boat access facilities. Activities must benefit and directly support public recreational boating.
Eligible projects must be constructed on public lands owned by the project sponsor or leased for at least 25 years. Eligible construction projects include boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas, landscaping in direct relation to access development, transient tie-up floats and signs. Grant funds are to be used only for major site improvements and not for any routine maintenance or operation activities.
The deadline for applications is Sept. 30. All work funded for this round of grants should be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.
For detailed information or an application, go to www.fish.state.pa.us and click on "grants," then "Boating Facilities Grant Program."
The school will take place Sunday through Thursday, July 13-17 on Lake Perez at Penn State's Stone Valley Recreation Area in Huntingdon County.
"We are proud to again join this cooperative educational effort giving angling youth a solid foundation in warm-water ecosystems, their management, and how they affect black bass and bass angling," said Michael DeBerardinis, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). "Participants will improve their stewardship skills, leave the school better-equipped to serve as leaders in conservation and have a heck of a lot of fun learning."
The five-day, four-night program will include sessions on fishery biology, fisheries management and habitat improvement, boating safety, fishing skills and techniques, fish-and-boating law enforcement, fisheries and conservation careers and tournament angling. Other conservation-related and hands-on activities are planned.
Students will learn from experts and professionals in various conservation fields from across Pennsylvania and the nation. Instruction will be geared toward youths who already possess some basic outdoor skills and fishing experience but want to further develop those skills and learn more about bass angling.
"Excellent angling programs have helped create not only better anglers, but also better citizens," said Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Doug Austen. "Research clearly shows that good, well-structured youth fishing programs like this help kids increase their skills, fish more and build a greater sense of aquatic stewardship and outdoor ethics."
The Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School is a cooperative effort by DCNR's Bureau of State Parks, Pennsylvania Bass Federation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Penn State and the Marsh Creek Bass Club.
"The camp is a combination of nonstop, hands-on, fun-filled activities from boat safety and basic angling skills to fish biology and habitat management," said Bass Federation Conservation Director Bill Reichert. "Learning fishing skills from a dozen volunteers and introduction into aquatic science by professional staff offer the students insights into opportunities to become conservation and environmental leaders."
Twenty students will be selected to participate. Students are encouraged to seek organizational sponsorships through sporting, community or civic groups to cover the $200 enrollment fee.
The application and enrollment process for students ages 14-17 continues through April 30. Applicants must submit a one-page essay addressing "What fishing means to me; the importance of conservation and why I want to attend the school." A letter of recommendation from a teacher or close associate is also required.
Enrollment applications and more details can be obtained through the Fish and Boat Commission's Web site (www.fish.state.pa.us). Click on "partners & links," "conservation programs," "Youth Bass Anglers Conservation School" and "application." Or phone Bureau of State Parks education specialist Spring Reilly at (814) 625-9369.
"¢FUNDING FOR BOATING FACILITIES: The Fish and Boat Commission is encouraging county and municipal governments interested in the planning, acquisition, development, expansion or rehabilitation of public boating facilities to apply for funding through the Boating Facility Grant Program.
The program is designed to help local governments provide or improve recreational boat access facilities in their communities that are open to the public. Private businesses, non-profit or not-for-profit organizations and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding but are encouraged to partner with local governments for funding.
Applicants can seek grants for site acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion and major rehabilitation of recreational boat access facilities. Activities must benefit and directly support public recreational boating.
Eligible projects must be constructed on public lands owned by the project sponsor or leased for at least 25 years. Eligible construction projects include boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas, landscaping in direct relation to access development, transient tie-up floats and signs. Grant funds are to be used only for major site improvements and not for any routine maintenance or operation activities.
The deadline for applications is Sept. 30. All work funded for this round of grants should be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.
For detailed information or an application, go to www.fish.state.pa.us and click on "grants," then "Boating Facilities Grant Program."