A Message from "Hooked On Our Kids" Program Founder and Director Jim Marsh

What an exciting time for us! I would like to introduce Hooked On Our Kids (H.O.O.K.) to everyone and tell you a little about what we do and what we are going to accomplish. H.O.O.K. was started in Maryland in 2001 when I was living in a neighborhood that had several lakes and ponds. I would take my son out some evenings fishing and noticed there weren't any kids fishing. It surprised me because I remember my childhood and how I went fishing every chance I got.

I went to the local community center and offered to teach a class on fishing for kids. It would be six weeks, one hour a week, and I would focus on the basics. After jumping through some hoops like explaining to them what I wanted to accomplish and that I wanted to do it for free, establishing how many kids per class I wanted to enroll; 20 sounded like I good number to me, we began enrollment.

Shortly before the first class was to begin, they called and said I had a waiting list; the class was full. So I discovered that kids did want to learn how to fish and needed someone to mentor them. My first two classes at this location were full; then I began spreading out to other local communities. I also discovered that I can only do so many classes myself which brings me to my dilemma; I need volunteers to help.

I have created a program that is easy to follow. It covers the basics in a classroom environment. When you have the kids in a classroom environment, they pay attention better. Since so much of fishing is mechanics and general knowledge, it can be explained and demonstrated indoors.

Volunteers can be members of bass clubs, civic clubs as well as boys and girls clubs. We will send out a kit that has the curriculum and equipment you will need. We will also help you find a place to give the classes and develop a press release to let people know when the class will take place as well as how to sign up for it. We need your help so please contact me via e-mail if you are interested. My e-mail address is jim@hookedonourkids.com.

One of my favorite quotes is "A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.” -- Forest Witchcraft

I want to thank BoatUS ANGLER for giving H.O.O.K. this opportunity to reach out to all of you.

Jim Marsh

Director – H.O.O.K.

Those interested in volunteering should visit the H.O.O.K. website at www.hookedonourkids.com, or contact Jim Marsh directly at jim@hookedonourkids.com.

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