5/2/07 Update
THE BASS FEDERATION UNVEILS TBF NATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Taking Fishing, Family Fun, The Outdoors Experience Into America’s School
Systems
PONCA CITY, Okla. (May 2, 2007) – Before a crowd of excited students, teachers,
The Bass Federation (TBF) state presidents and TBF state conservation directors,
The Bass Federation presented the first official look at its new National
Education Program April 20 during the TBF National Championship presented by the
National Guard in Charlotte, N.C.
Students and teachers from three Charlotte-area junior high schools participated
in the 50-minute program, which has been tested and refined over the last
several months by TBF representatives in schools across the nation. The program
is designed to teach students about career and educational opportunities
available through fishing. It also illustrates how the basic elements of their
education are used every day by anglers to catch more fish.
TBF Vice President Mike Dunkerley and National Youth Director Mark Gintert
discussed science, math and language skills and how they play an important part
in the lives of the professional anglers that the students see on FSN (Fox
Sports Net) every weekend. Dunkerley and Gintert also explained how the skills
play a roll in everyday life and discussed the business end of professional
angling and job opportunities that are being created in the sport.
“This is a great opportunity to illustrate to students the importance of basic
learning skills like math, English and science,” Dunkerley said. “These are
tools that they can use while fishing and take with them through life in any
profession. It is our mission to impress upon students the importance of those
skills while having some fun doing it. So TBF outlined the basics of the program
last year and then we took it to the professionals, the public school system
teachers and educators, and tested it around the United States for a few months
to get their input and expertise on it. What the public saw in Charlotte was the
result of all that.”
“Once under way, we have a goal and a marketing plan that should allow us to
impact at least 200,000 students per year through an assembly type format or a
classroom DVD,” Gintert said. “In addition to educating students, we also want
to provide an opportunity for them to get involved in school fishing clubs or
TBF Junior clubs. It’s time to reintroduce our young people to the great
outdoors and all that it has to offer. It is clean family fun that anyone can
do.”
The Federation currently has a sponsorship package available to fund this
program in its National Campaign. Anyone interested in getting involved should
contact TBF President Robert Cartlidge (Robert@bassfederation.com)
or Mark Gintert (mark@bassfederation.com).
The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to
the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs
conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local
level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing
industry for more than 35 years. In 2006 TBF partnered with the largest
tournament operations and marketing organization in the world, FLW Outdoors.
For more information about The Bass Federation, visit
www.bassfederation.com or call
580-765-9031
For more information about FLW Outdoors, visit
www.flwoutdoors.com or call
270-252-1000
