Noteboom The Law Firm

Take Me Fishing Campaign Engages Military Families

December 3, 2010 - A partnership between the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation's (RBFF) Take Me Fishing (TM) campaign, the Sierra Club's Water Sentinels, and the National Military Fish & Wildlife Association (NMFWA) provides fishing expeditions for military families. Zebco, a large manufacturer of fishing equipment, provided over 500 reels and rods, free of charge, for use in the program.

The shipment of rods and reels went to the Sierra Club Water Sentinels, who will then issue them to the NMFWA, who will put them into service for use by the military families when they head out to fish. Almost 60,000 youths across 17 military installations in 11 states have participated from the Take Me Fishing campaign since last year alone.

The President of the NMFWA says this program personifies everything his organization stands for. Not only does it get youths outdoors, it exposes them to fishing, it gets them involved in something, and helps them engage such concepts as protecting "America's water resources."

The Take Me Fishing campaign has raised almost $20 million since 2005, which is used to help states in their conservation programs. By engaging youths in fishing and boating, the campaign seeks to raise awareness for the conservation of our water resources.

At the same time they are building awareness, they are helping military families. Many youths on military bases have parents deployed overseas, and this campaign seeks to engage those youths and get them involved. Fishing is one of this country's greatest pastimes, and Take Me Fishing provides an easy gateway into the experience.