Investing in Families Forever
by Shane Wilson, Founder/CEO, Fishing’s Future
Seldom do I stop and look inward and share my thoughts, but today I am going to share my perspective. Fishing's Future was created to teach families how to fish. It was created in 2007 to bring fishing education to families in every community. Fifteen years later, with more than sixty active chapters in twenty states and over one million individuals educated, I have learned one overriding lesson. "Education is needed, and education is key to growing the sport."
Fishing is easy, but learning how to fish is intimidating. Fishing's Future is the solution. A recent American Sportfishing Association (ASA) post expresses this in four simple words, "Invest in Fishing's Future." The American Sportfishing Association did not intend for me to take their post literally, but I am 100% in support of their message.
In its simplest form, fishing education is the teaching of basic skills necessary to fish. Everyone within the industry knows the skills. The knots, the equipment, a bobber, a sinker, and a hook. It is that basic, and yet it is much more. Trace Adkins states it beautifully in his song JUST FISHIN when he says, "This ain't about fishin'."
He sees fishing for what it is and why we all fish. Fishing's Future states it in their slogan, "more than a sport," and when a family spends a day at a Fishing's Future Family Fish Camp, they leave with the true significance of why they want to go fishing again. It is all about FAMILY and the memories made while waiting on a bobber to go down.
Fishing's Future has broadened its offerings and educational focus to address the special needs population by modifying a twenty-five-foot tritoon boat (named the "I CAN"). This accommodates all special needs apparatus complete with special lifts, heightened railings, wheelchair, medical bed tie-downs, movable shade structures, loading ramps, and safety equipment. This one-of-a-kind vessel (captained by a paraplegic) allows Fishing's Future to provide a unique and safe fishing experience for those special needs families after they have gone through the Fishing's Future curriculum.
Fishing's Future has also acquired a 5,000-gallon portable fish tank which enables Fishing's Future to take fishing into the inner-city after families have gone through the FF Curriculum. Fishing's Future believes that all families, regardless of race, creed, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or other physical/mental limitation, should learn how to fish and experience the joys found in the great outdoors.
This belief is shared by many within the sportfishing industry, but only a handful have tackled it with the passion and dedication as Fishing's Future. Fishing professionals Alton Jones, Gary Klein, Kelly Jordon, Gary Yamamoto, and other legends have recognized the tremendous influence Fishing's Future has on the sport and proudly display the Fishing's Future Logo.
The fish in the Fishing's Future logo is made from two lower case f's embracing, which come from "families forever." Families need something that brings them together and strengthens family bonds, and fishing is the perfect hook.
Remember when you were young and adventurous? Remember growing up and roaming the great outdoors beyond the earshot of your parents? Remember the excitement of doing something completely new? Those feelings are what Fishing's Future is sharing.
Fishing's Future is not handing someone a rod & reel combo at a Family Fish Camp. It is teaching a lifetime skill that those families can do with their kids, grandkids, grandparents, and great grandkids. Fishing's Future is teaching outdoor family fun and excitement.
Families experience memories past and future. Families are immersed in togetherness, love, appreciation of the outdoors, and environmental stewardship. Future leaders, biologists, conservationists, writers, teachers, lawyers, and even future fishing professionals desire to fish, but they need someone to teach them how. Fishing's Future is that someone.
Sitting on a bank staring at a bobber with another family member is way more than just fishing. Everything Fishing's Future does is founded on that premise. Fishing's Future is educating individuals and bringing families closer together. That education is an investment in "Families Forever."
To find out more about the organization Fishing's Future or to receive your Fishing's Future logo decal,
contact them via: www.fishingsfuture.org or email Shane at shane@fishingsfuture.org
Fishing's Future is an incorporated 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are deductible.
Federal tax ID #20-8782271
|
|
|
Click here to unsubscribe.
| Click here to forward
View this email as a web page
Message sent by Island Matters , sarah@islandmatters.org
Island Matters | P.O. Box 2778 | South Padre Island, TX 78597
