Mecklenburg County Boy Scouts of America

MCC Hooked on Fishing

-Your Fishing Resource for Scouts of All Ages -

Become a BSA Certified Angler Instructor (CAI)

 

Sign up to become a BSA Certified Angling Instructor, learn fundamental fishing and fly-fishing skills, learn how to best teach Scouts those fishing skills, and to have fun! 

 

The CAI Course syllabus includes; Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing Fishing Programs held at the Unit, District, and Council Level.  Course participants will learn age based and skill appropriate fishing tools and techniques for their Scouts, ranging from the Cane Pole to Fly Fishing.  

 

Who should attend?  

• Council Camp Program Directors  

• Camp Fishing Staff

• Merit Badge Counselors

• Cub Scout Day Camp Staff

• Unit leaders

• Older Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts- Scouts age 15 or older may attend and will receive certification, plus complete requirements for the fishing & fly fishing merit badge, complete angler and Ranger award (fishing elective).

No prior fishing experience is necessary!

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 24th World Scout Jamboree.

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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.

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“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.”

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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.

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“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.”

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The announcement of this new partnership comes as the IGFA participates in fishing activities that are taking place during the 24thWorld 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

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  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.

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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.