Many of you are affiliated with the BSA Central Region, some are not!.  I still wanted to share with you a copy of thee Central Region Outdoor Program Newsletter - The Promise. 

It is the intent of the Central Region Outdoor Program Support Team (CROPS) to provide councils with information and tools to improve local outdoor program and help them to better deliver the Promise to Scouting.  

I plan to share this newsletter every quarter for news from the National Service Center, highlights from the Outdoor Program Sub-Committees and dates of upcoming events.  

Feel Free to distribute this to any interested Scouter and we hope this will be beneficial to your work in the Scouting Movement!

Perhaps your Region has a similar Newsletter.   Please forward it to me and I will share to all CAI's and Angler Educators. 

FISH ON!

Michael R. Brand

Are you a CAI located in the Central Region? If so this opportunity is for you!  If not you still are invited to attend the 2020 Central Region Outdoor Conferences.

Bring a friend and share the experience!

January 18, Maytag Center, 6123 Scout Trail, Des Moines, IA; or

January 25, Camp Belzer, 6102 Boy Scout Rd, Lawrence, IN

Once again in 2020, the Region Outdoor Adventure Group is proud to offer two conferences that provide you with shorter travel time and date options to help you attend and learn how to better serve youth in outdoors.

These conferences are open to any Scouter or Scouting professional at all levels – unit, district, council, area, regional, or national – with an interest in Outdoor Programs, NCAP, and Resident Day Camp.

There will be sessions exclusive to Cub Scouts in the outdoors and more session opportunities in 2020, specifically, a 2-block session for professionals and volunteers involved in Cub Scout Day Camp program.

New this year, Scout executives can use courses from either conference for their Camp Rangers Continuing Education Hours credit.

The 2020 conferences will be emphasizing sustainability. As part of this emphasis, we will not be providing coffee cups or bottled water, so be sure to bring your own coffee cup or refillable water bottle. We will “Do Our Best” to reduce our impact by recycling as much as possible.

When registering, you will select four sessions (two in the morning and two after lunch) in order to obtain the full session menu and meet regional leaders of Outdoor Adventure.

Information regarding the 2021 Scouts BSA Jamboree will be available, as well, with some exciting updates on how troops will be organized for the 2021 Jamboree at the Summit.

Cost is $30 per person for food and materials. Field uniform is appropriate. Please share any dietary restrictions when you register online. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. local time and the conference opens at 8:45 a.m. Closing is around 2:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is required; for Des Moines by January 12 and Lawrence by January 19. All fees are prepaid; no checks.

Walk-in fee is $50, cash only. You will be notified by mail two days prior if cancelled due to inclement weather.

Please click on one of the links below to register for the conference you will be attending:

January 18 - Des Moines, IA

https://reservations.scouting.org/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x123653fbbc

January 25 - Lawrence, IN

https://reservations.scouting.org/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x123672fbd7

Just received word on this unique opportunity from our good friend Tony Forte, Member of the BSA National Fishing Sub-Committee, and President for USA Bass. 

To view the US Angling Confederation Press Release,  click Press Release . 

Get your limited edition team hat before they sell out!

Michael R. Brand - Communications

• Each scout who completes his or her Fishing Merit Badge or Fly Fishing Merit Badge can obtain a Certificate of Recognition and will be counted towards IGFA's Youth Education Initiative to teach 100,000 youth around the world to fish.

  • 

  Directions for Scouts who have earned fishing-related awards:
  

1. Go to: https://learn-to-fish.igfa.org/courses/certificate-of-recognition

2. Sign up for free with your name and a contact email. *Parents/Guardians: make sure to sign up using the Scout’s name to be sure the correct name is on the Certificate of Recognition.

3. Complete a short survey.

4. Get your certificate.

5. Download and share your certificate on social media. #fishon, #firstcatch, and #fishigfa.

Directions for Scouts who attended the spin fishing or fly fishing activities during the 24th World Scout Jamboree:

 

1.       Go to: https://learn-to-fish.igfa.org/courses/certificate-of-recognition
2.       Sign up for free with your name and a contact email.
3.       Complete a short survey.
4.       Get your certificate.
5.       Download and share your certificate on social media. #wsj2019, #wsjfishon, #firstcatch, and #fishigfa.

Share your Certificate!

#firstcatch and #fishigfa

Sign in, complete a quick survey, and download your very own Certificate of Recognition from the IGFA! (Note: make sure to sign in under the scout's name, but parents may need to use their email address.) Don't forget to share your accomplishment in the field of angling and a photo of your "First Catch" on social media!

Please share this email with all your Scouting Contacts.

Michael R. Brand - Communications

The August issue of IGFA’s International Angler came out right before IGFA team members all left to prepare for Dorian.

https://igfa.org/international-angler-august-2019/?bblinkid=173747863&bbemailid=15174692&bbejrid=1149408501

You can find the article about the World Scout Jamboree in there.

https://igfa.org/2019/08/29/igfa-partners-with-boy-scouts-of-america/

FISH ON!

Michael R. Brand 

NEWS RELEASE

IGFA & Boy Scouts of America Partner on Youth Education

The Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia – July 31, 2019 – The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) recently announced a new partnership focused on youth angling education during the 24^th World Scout Jamboree.

A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the organizations’ shared objective of introducing youth to the joys of fishing and educating them on how to be ethical anglers and stewards of the environment. Specifically, the MOU describes how the IGFA will work with the BSA on developing and executing their angling-focused programs by sharing youth education curricula and materials as needed. Additionally, all scouts who complete their BSA Fishing and Fly-Fishing Merit Badges will be included in the IGFA’s initiative to teach 100,000 kids to fish and will receive a custom certificate from the IGFA.

“Establishing meaningful partnerships with longstanding and reputable organizations like the Boy Scouts of America provides us with a great opportunity to expand the reach and impact of our youth education initiatives,” said IGFA President Nehl Horton. “We look forward to working closely with the BSA to accomplish the important work of developing the next generation of ethical anglers.”

The BSA’s fishing programs have expanded greatly since the implementation of the Certified Angling Instructor (CAI) initiative, which began just ten years ago.  There are now almost 1,500 CAIs trained to bring Scouting youth better opportunities to learn and enjoy fishing. The IGFA was instrumental in launching the CAI program nearly ten years ago. To date, the BSA has awarded over two million Fishing Merit Badges and the program continues to be among the most popular of the non-required merit badges.

“We are very happy to again work together with IGFA to reach common goals by introducing fishing to the Scouting youth,” said BSA National Fishing Committee Chairman Ben Jelsema. “These Scouts will enjoy learning the art of fishing while becoming environmentally responsible.”

The announcement of this new partnership comes as the IGFA participates in fishing activities that are taking place during the 24^th World Scout Jamboree, an event which brings together 46,000 Scouts from 167 different countries around the world. Stay tuned for more collaboration between the IGFA and BSA as this MOU begins to take effect.

About the IGFA

Founded in 1939, The International Game Fish Association is a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling. The IGFA maintains world records in freshwater, saltwater, fly-fishing and junior angler categories. The IGFA has members in more than 100 countries.

About the BSA

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest Scouting organizations in the United States of America and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers. The BSA was founded in 1910, and since then, more than 110 million Americans have been participants in BSA programs at some time. The BSA’s goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations.

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Engaging Kids with the 'Lure' of Angling A big challenge for many R3 agencies and organizations is effectively engaging the next generation of anglers. One solution is Into The Outdoors, a new innovative program that’s giving the entire R3 community free educational media that connects with today’s youth and empowers kids to make decisions about outdoor pursuits in three ways: online media, television, and peer-driven classroom learning.   This new program, Getting Families Fishing, has been created and distributed by the Emmy-winning Into the Outdoors Education Network through a partnership with the Future Angler Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing sportfishing across the country. Funded by a multi-state conservation grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the series is producing four new television programs and 16 angling education classroom videos. The series is already broadcasting on syndicated television across multiple states, plus airing the shows 24/7 on five national digital channels. PBS affiliates have even noticed the new series, and with the free national offering, have started airing the shows in some markets.   “With FWS funding, this entire program provides a one-two punch that gets kids interested in angling pathways,” says Dan Bertalan, Director of the Into the Outdoors Education Network. “Multiple channels on the entertainment network can get millions excited about fishing. And when they return to school this fall, teachers nationally will have free online access to the 16 classroom videos and hands-on angling lesson activities.” Learn More Upon completion, the new television shows and classroom videos will feature kids fishing with family and friends in: Florida Fishing Fun Wild About Walleyes Crazy for Crappies Busting Big Bass These full half-hour television shows are freely available to all state and federal agencies, R3 organizations and even corporations and other outdoor television shows via FTP upload. All of the classroom videos and angling lesson activities will be available on IntotheOutdoors.org, the national portal for outdoor education and entertainment. All media and educational content will also be featured on Kidsfishing.US. For more information, email intotheoutdoorstv@gmail.com or go to IntoTheOutdoors.org.

For a copy of the Spring CAI Newsletter 2019 Click Here

For an article written by Western Region Area #6 Fishing Lead, Stan Wright, CAI Please follow the links below for the select pages of the Wawaii Fishing News 2019.

FISH ON!

Page22.pdf

Page23.pdf

Many of you know CAI Tim Beaty as he serves on the BSA National Fishing Committee, and is the Western Region Fishing Chair.

In addition to this service, Tim has and continues to provided leadership to the W.T. Hornaday Award Program National Jamborees, NOACS, and the hugely successful Arrow Corps. 5 Conservation Project.

Tim was honored tonight and made an Honorary Member of the Camp-Fire Club of America. Founded in 1897 by some of our earilist conservationists including such people as Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, William T. Hornaday, Gifford Pinchot, and others. They have been one of the forces behind many of the major conservation efforts throughout the past century.  Congrats Tim, clearly your leadership, commitment, your passion, and actions reflect why you were chosen. This is so well deserved!