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HOOK'd - "Hooked On Our Kids" Program Helps Educators Introduce Kids to the Thrill of Fishing

H.O.O.K. (Hooked on Our Kids) is a volunteer organization that introduces fishing to kids and their parents. T hrough H.O.O.K. seminars and courses, children will gain a love for the outdoors and for fishing.  They will then grow up participating in a sport that knows no limitations of age, gender or physical abilities.

 

Started by tournament bass angler Jim Marsh in Maryland in 2001, the program covers fishing basics, mechanics and general knowledge in a classroom environment - a place where children can pay attention better.

 

Jim encourages volunteers to set up classes in their local community and provides each class a curriculum and the equipment needed. He will also assist in finding a place to hold the classes and develop a press release to let people know when the class will take place and how to sign up.

Jim Marsh instructing at the Oklahoma City Tackle Show in 2007

The seminars take approximately two hours; the courses run 5 -6 weeks, one night a week. Instructors teach children the fundamentals of knot tying, types of fish, casting, safety around water, and handling fish in a fun and exciting format.  The children enjoy games, handling real live bait, and an actual fishing trip on a local body of water as well as instruction in a loose classroom environment.

 

H.O.O.K. also hopes to teach parents how to make fishing trips enjoyable for both them and their children.  They teach parents the same basics as the kids and give them practical ways to make the trip pleasurable. They give parents ideas about good places to fish with children, games, and different things they can do to keep the child occupied and focused on their surroundings, like starting a rock collection or finding crickets for bait.   

 

Volunteers can be members of fishing clubs, civic clubs, as well as boys and girls clubs. Those interested should visit the H.O.O.K. website at www.hookedonourkids.com, or contact Jim Marsh directly at jim@hookedonourkids.com.

 

Click here to read an introductory letter from theFounder and Director, Jim Marsh

 

 

H.O.O.K. Programs

H.O.O.K. offers several different programs that will benefit the beginning to intermediate angler.

One Day Seminars

One-day seminars that last approximately one - two hours. During these sessions, kids will be introduced to the basics of fishing, baiting hooks, tying knots, casting and safe fish handling. The main objective is to get kids interested in fishing and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Fry Level

This course introduces kids to the basics of fishing. This class is geared toward children ages 5 through 12, although younger kids may attend if accompanied by a parent. They will explore basic fishing information, safety, equipment, tackle, types of fish, where to fish, casting, retrieving and safe fish handling.  This class is 6 weeks long, one night a week.

 Advanced Level

During this class, the children will explore the habitats of different fish species. Also covered is the use of artificial baits for both fresh and saltwater fish and the children will spend time learning different fishing techniques and the execution of them. Visual aids are used. This class is 5 weeks long, one night a week. At the end of the class, there will be a scheduled day at a local lake to put into use the information learned.

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