COMMUNITY FLY FISHER

Youth development through fly fishing and environmental education

Programming

The COMMUNITY FLY FISHER (CFF) youth fly fishing education effort is unique in all the US in the diversity and scope of its programming. We use the exciting and lifelong sport of fly fishing, to help youngsters build self-confidence and self-worth, while introducing them to valuable career and educational opportunities. Community service, environmental stewardship and educational scholarship are encouraged and become an integral part of the CFF experience.

CFF programming includes:

Urban Youth Education Project- organizing clubs and training adult mentors from "inner city" Ithaca to work with youngsters, while providing support in the form of expertise, materials, equipment and instruction. Local environmental stewardship is stressed. Youngsters get the valuable opportunity to enter into and advance in the CFF program.

Urban Youth Internship- Diallo House, 21 year old junior at SUNY Cobleskill, native Ithacan and fly fisher apprentice for nine years, will be our first Urban Youth Intern. As a member of the program he has won numerous service awards in his local community and throughout the northeast. He will coordinate programming and design curriculum, for urban neighborhood mentoring efforts. Diallo stands as a positive role model, who will effectively obtain a welcome entry for fly fishing education and environmental stewardship into the diverse population that we are trying to reach, and that sorely needs this type activity.

Work-Based Learning Initiative- expanding youth fly fishing education in Ithaca and surrounding towns and counties. Young apprentices, who have been active fly fishing instructors with CFF for many years, are being hired to design curriculum and teach classes and workshops in after school programs, with "at risk" youth, at day and residential camps, and other youth education venues.

CFF Fly Fishing Shop and Environmental Education Center- unique in all the US, is being designed and will be staffed by young people from the community. Start-up funding has been provided for through a HUD grant and opening inventory promised from the sportfishing industry. The CFF is an exciting workforce prep and career building opportunity offering quality classes and camps along with free access to library and educational materials to youngsters during important non-school hours. (Estimated opening late 1998).

CFF Fly Fishing Classes and Camps- an extensive selection of affordable fly fishing classes and camps, designed with an emphasis on local resource education. All members of the community, interested youngsters and their mentors, are invited to enjoy these unique, high quality fly fishing and recreational experiences in beautiful freshwater and saltwater environs.

CFF Winter Workshops- in addition to the other classes and camps, a variety of fly tying and rod building classes are offered to mentors and apprentices during the winter months. The entire community is invited to participate. These wholesome, productive and affordable activities, help attract interested youngsters to our total program.

Field Trips, Teaching Opportunities- skilled, dedicated youngsters who show a strong interest in the sport are taken on as apprentices. These youngsters are then given the opportunity to instruct, work and learn in number of venues; including fly fishing shows, business trade shows, youth entrepreneur events, fairs, businesses, workshops and schools, across the US.

CFF Partnerships and Joint Activities- in order to build a strong, comprehensive program and offer our young apprentices a wealth of educational and career opportunities, we have formed strong working relations with a diversity of organizations, companies and individuals across the US.

A partial list includes: 4-H, Boy and Girls Scouts, American Sportfishing Association, American Fly Fishing Tackle Trade Association, Ithaca Sciencenter, Lime Hollow Nature Center, Tunnison Federal Fish Lab, National 4-H Youth Fishing Project, Future Fisherman Foundation, New Jersey School of Conservation (Monclair State U), Cornell University, NY Department of Environmental Conservation, Wisconsin DNR, Alaska Fish and Game, NY Sportfishing and Aquatic Resources Education Program, Orvis Inc., Umpqua Feather Merchants, St. Croix Rod Company, Cayuga Nature Center, The Learning Web, Peconic Dunes Environmental Camp, Hareline Dubbin, Morrell Fly Boxes, Ross Reel, Times Mirror Magazine, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, Atlantic Salmon Federation, several city, town and county youth bureaus.

We are also advising youth education workers on setting up similar programs in urban areas as diverse as: Alaska; New Jersey; Colorado; California; Michigan, Russia and Great Britain.

Please contact the program manager for information on how you, your company, charitable organization or foundation can contribute. Detailed programming information is also available from:

Youth Fly Fishing Education
Cornell Cooperative Extension; Education Center
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, New York 14850
607-272-2292 Fax: 607-272-7088
email: tompkins@cornell.edu