Kids fish with 4-H, Extension and DNR partnership

On one hand is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with its Fish Iowa program that teaches youth how to fish and about aquatic and natural resources.

On the other hand is Iowa State University Extension with its statewide 4-H Youth Development program and its network of adults working regularly with kids in every Iowa county.

Those two hands, working together since 1998, have created 4-H Fish Iowa and today more Iowa youngsters are baiting hooks, casting lines and becoming a fishing generation.

"The DNR recognized a decrease in the number of young anglers years ago," said Barb Gigar, aquatic education coordinator. "Our Fish Iowa program was initiated in 1990 as a way to address that decline, by teaching kids how to fish who didn't normally have an opportunity to fish or have anyone to teach them how to fish."

Through 4-H Fish Iowa, youth are baiting hooks, casting lines and learning what they need to know to become a fishing generation.

Gigar said the Fish Iowa program, through special outings and by going into physical education classes in the schools, was giving kids the basic instruction that they needed to learn how to fish.

"But we found something missing," Gigar said. "Our research was telling us that kids needed reinforcement of that basic instruction. They needed more mentoring and more chances to go fishing in organized groups."

Conversations between ISU Extension's 4-H Youth Development program and DNR led to Gigar working with Judy Levings, an ISU Extension youth development specialist, to create "teaching tubs" filled with fishing educational materials and to train adults to use the materials. DNR has supplied fishing poles and grant "seed" money for the start-up of Fishing 4-H clubs.

Extension and DNR are getting kids to fish -- after school, on weekends, at day camps.

"I wouldn't have attempted fishing outings with kids without this training and the poles. And we had 30 kids in the fishing club the first year," said Peg Rogers, Monroe County Extension program assistant.

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