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Passport to Fishing and Boating
The Passport to Fishing and Boating Program
is an introduction to a lifetime of recreation for families
with little or no previous fishing and boating experience.
By participating in the program, participants have fun while
learning some basic skills and needed techniques to begin
fishing and boating in their communities. The Passport
Program includes strong stewardship messages as part of
each learning activity. A Passport Materials Kit
of posters and other printed materials for the Passport
Program, as well as teaching tools for each station, can be
ordered at cost or may be downloaded free from the website
and duplicated locally.
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Passport Program
Six different "hands-on" stations with activities
focused on fishing, boating and aquatic stewardship
have been developed for family participation. The
program is designed to give participants the chance
to be actively involved in each of the activities.
Studies show that information is remembered better
when participants physically do things and actively
think about the activity compared to when they
listen to a lecture of the same material.
Six groups of about 10 people each, rotate
between the 6 stations, accommodating a total of 60
people at one time. Stations may be completed in any
order. Reading levels and activities are designed
for 4th grade, about age 10, with whole family
participation.
The Program takes about an hour and 45 minutes
for participants to rotate through all 6 Stations.
Each station takes about 15 to 18 minutes and covers
the following topics:
Fish Habitat and Handling
Boat Smart, Boat Safe
Fishing Knots and Rigging |
Casting
Ready, Set, Boat
Local Information |
The Program is designed so that lay volunteers
can conduct the station activities. A ratio of one
volunteer per 10 participants is recommended,
allowing for optimal learning experiences for both
participants and volunteers. |
Passport to Fishing and Boating
is a simple, effective and inexpensive program designed to
be:
- Easily used and easily understood,
- Delivered by lay volunteers,
- Hands-on and interactive learning,
- Easily adapted to diverse settings whether at the
water's edge or where fishing and boating options are
not immediately available,
- Appropriate throughout the year.
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Station activities have
been developed using proven, research-based,
best practices in science, education and
skill building.
The Passport Program is designed
to be adaptable, so it may
be tailored to address:
- Local conditions,
- Various time lengths,
- Varied audiences.
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A teaching materials packet
for each station is assembled with a lay
volunteer in mind, featuring:
- Teaching Objectives
- Background information about the
subject
- Teaching Tips
- A Materials list
- A Script of what to say and do
- Extensions to suggest ways to add to
the program if you have more time
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The Passport to Fishing and Boating was
developed based on a need identified by the National Fishing
and Boating Week Steering Committee, made up of diverse
fishing and boating stakeholders. A team of noted educators
and leaders in their fields of aquatic, marine, and boating
education formed a Working Group to develop and then pilot
test the program at events. With each pilot test, the
Working Group evaluated, refined, and revised the materials
and sharpened the focus of the program over the past year.
An important component of this process is ongoing
refinement, provided through evaluations. This gives you, as
an Event Host, the opportunity to report back
about your program so your experiences and ideas may be
considered and incorporated. An evaluation form
is included in this overview packet (see p. 15). Please use
this reporting form so your voice will be heard and your
information will reach the Passport Working Group. We are
looking forward to hearing from you and learning about your
Passport experiences.
To learn more contact us. |
