FISH ON! Winter/Spring 2019

In this issue:

Ben’s Tight Lines Fish Management Regional Reports CAI Discounts CAI News

Certified Angling Instructor Volume 1 Issue 3

CAI Newsletter FISH ON! Is the CAI Newsletter providing

information on training, upcoming events,

introduction to new CAI’s, and more. Have

something interesting to share with group? Send it

to pjperea@gmail.com

Ben’s Tight Lines

I wish to thank each of you for sharing your skills as a CAI to our Scouting youth. As a CAI, you are our link to bringing Scouts the opportunity for experiencing fishing into their life. Fishing will enrich their enjoyment, their pride of accomplishment and provide them a sport, which can bring an activity for their family to do together. What a valuable gift for them and self-satisfaction to you as a CAI who gave them a start into an activity of a lifetime.

We are starting a new year and looking to accomplish our goals via more new CAI courses, more presentations to Cub Scouts with an introduction to fishing, and more fishing programs for Scouts BSA and Venturers. We believe fishing is a Gateway for Girls into our Scouting Units. Whatever your scouting job is you can help to enhance the experience of our youth via fishing.

We added over 25 new CAI course directors in the last two years through the CAI Director Conferences. We plan 4 to 5 more director courses throughout the country this year. This allows opportunities for you to step forth, take this course, and then commit to hold a course in your council. We will provide you with all the elements of how to get a course started, how to promote it, and will provide a full syllabus and power point slide pack to get you started. Upon you completing the director’s course, you are better able to hold your own CAI course. We will make one of our experienced course directors coach you through your first course. This can add CAI’s into your council and then you should start a fishing committee within the council focused on bringing quality fishing opportunities to the youth, improving the camp fisheries, and bringing quality fishing and fly fishing gear at highly discounted prices for successful fishing programs.

We have now 47 qualified CAI Course Directors and to date only 24 have run a course. For those who have completed the director’s course and not run a course I challenge you to do so this year. Make a New Year’s Resolution and keep it. Remember we are here to help you and your council needs to have a group of fishing advocates, they probably do not know it but they would see great benefits in recruitment and retention.

Thank you all and let us make 2019 the year of “Fish-on” for our Scouts.

FISH ON! Ben Jelsema National BSA Outdoor Programs Committee Chairman, BSA National Fishing Subcommittee

Fisheries Management

Aquatics Educators National Meeting

In October, I got the chance to attend the National meeting for Aquatics Recreation Educator Association (AREA) meeting in Lake Tahoe, CA.

I wanted to share some of the points of the 3-day meeting I brought back with me:

I learned that there are Professional Fishing Educators. Some of the teaching techniques they used were easily translated to

the Certified Angling Instructor program. They had a mat with fish habitat on it. I brought one back to show how

to teach where to fish. They had a TFO fly fishing training rod called the Accelerator. IT cre-

ates a sense of timing for fly casting. https://tforods.com/practice-tools/

That sportsmen (women and men) fund virtually all the conservation from hunting and fishing licenses.

Without license fees and fishing taxes there is not funding to save the outdoors

Every State and Territory has professional aquatics educators. They are passionate about saving the environment by getting more

people fishing. BSA has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AREA to coop-

erate to help each other’s mission.

You should get to know the Aquatics Educator in your state. They are all friendly and very helpful creating fishing opportunities for your Scouts. *

*most states will only be able to plant public waters. BSA properties are considered private water so, they cannot put fish on a BSA camp.

Rick Kagawa

Scout ‘n

Fish

Please share your scout fishing

photos with Scout ‘n Fish!

CAI Regional Reports Central Region — Michael Brand

There are many great things about Scouting and Fishing, but the greatest is creating memories with people. I have a winter’s worth of fresh fishing memories to carry me through to the upcoming spring. I hope that you and your Scouts do as well.

At this time of the year, I like to give thanks and congratulate all those that #DARETODO ,especially the Central Region Area Fishing Leads and their assembled teams of BSA Certified Angling Instructors, and BSA Angler Educators, Fishing/Fly Fishing/ and Fish & Wildlife Management Merit Badge Counselors, Summer Camp Program Counselors, fellow Scouters, family and friends who supported Central Region BSA Fishing Programs offered in 2018. GREAT JOB!

I would like to thank Steve Klubertanz for his dedicated service as the Central Region Area 7 Fishing lead over the last 7 years. His dedication to the Scouts and Scouters, delivering quality angler education, activities, and support to the BSA Fishing Programs, and training BSA Certified Angling Instructors and BSA Angler Educators has been truly inspirational. Thank you Steve for a job well done!

I would also like to introduce our newest Central Region Area 7 Fishing lead, Doug Lindsay, a long time Scouter and BSA Certified Angling Instructor / CAI Course Director. We look forward to working Doug in the coming Fishing Season and beyond.

I am also very thankful for the opportunity to serve our youth with quality angling programs. Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturers and their families participated in quality fishing programs offered at the Unit, District, Council, and National levels. I believe our age and skill based angling programs provided many opportunities to gain knowledge, and put into action many tools and techniques. In the end, we have built a strong foundation for a lifetime hobby filled with enjoyment and fun, meant to be shared with families far into the future.

Looking forward to 2019-2020: We are pleased to announce that the following training courses will be facilitated by the BSA National Fishing Committee, with a focus on providing enhancements to your BSA Fishing Programs. These courses will cover Cub Scout, Scout BSA, and Venturing Fishing Programs held at the Unit, District, and Council Level. We believe the course delivers an understanding of the Mission and Vision of Outdoor Programs-Fishing, assisting in your efforts to Deliver the Promise. You will learn age based and skill appropriate fishing tools and techniques for your Scouts, ranging from the Cane Pole to Fly Fishing. The course highlights best practices on content delivery, in both the classroom and the field. Course Graduates will become BSA Certified Angling Instructors (Training Code CS61). FISH ON!

2019 scheduled Central Region - Certified Angling Instructor Training Courses: Greater St. Louis Area Council - CR Area #3 - March 29 - 31

W.D. Boyce Council - CR Area #3 - April 12 - 14

Great Rivers Council - CR Area #5 - March 8 - 10

Mid Iowa Council - CR Area #5 - April 5 - 7

Anthony Wayne Council - CR Area #6 - April 12 - 14

Black Swamp Council - CR Area #6 - May 10 - 12

For additional details visit www.bsafishing.com If you would like to schedule a BSA Certified Angling Instructor Course in your Council please contact Central Region Outdoor Programs - Fishing Chairman Michael Brand

Enhance your Recruitment and Retention programs through Fishing

Council have an opportunity to utilize purchasing programs developed by quality fishing tackle manufacturers, Future Fisherman Foundation and BSA National Fishing Committee. To learn more about these purchasing program offerings contact your Area Fishing Lead today!

Area #1 - John Woodhall Area #2 Dennis Festerling Area #3 Bob Quam Area #4 Ron Killian Area #5 Harold Kerns Area #6 James Ridgeway Area #7 Doug Lindsay

CAI Regional Reports

Western Region — Tim Beaty CAI Course Director Conference September 15-21, 2019 Philmont Training Center Cimmaron NM

BSA Fishing Train the Trainer September 15-21, 2019 Philmont Training Center Cimmaron NM

Northeast Region — Jim Byrd CAI Courses New Birth of Freedom Council March 30-31, 2019 Hidden Valley Scout Reservation Patriot's Path Council May 17-19, 2019 Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation Southeast Region— Bill Pepito CAI Course Old North State Council May 17-19, 2019 Cherokee Scout Reservation 3296 Boy Scout Camp Rd. Yanceyville, NC 27379 2018 Fishing, Fly Fishing and Fish & Wildlife Merit Badge Report

Fishing, #23 overall, 24,688 merit badges earned

Fish & Wildlife Management, #48 overall, 11,822 merit badges earned

Fly Fishing, #89 overall, 4,873 merit badges earned Fishing Merit Badge Popularity

From 1911-2018, #20 ranked overall

2,089,286 merit badges earned 2017 versus 2018 Merit Badges Earned

Fishing merit badge increased 1.4 %

Fly Fishing merit badge increased 6%

Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge increased 1.8%

CAI Discounts

The BSA National Fishing Subcommittee has been working closely with the

outdoor industry to get our CAI instructors the gear necessary to get scouts

fishing. Here are some of the discounts available exclusively to BSA CAI

members:

CAI Discounts

Tangle-FREE Telescopic

Micro Pocket Combo

Take it Anywhere!

30-inch Light Action

Fiberglass Rod

MICRO Spincast Reel

Pre-Spooled 6-Pound line

4.1:1 Gear Ratio

Adjustable Seat EVA Handle Single Rod Price - $19.99

Ten-Rod Price – $165.00

($16.50ea.)

Twenty-Rod Price - $310.00

($15.50ea.)

PRICE INCLUDES SHIPPING

Resources

BCAI - https://bcai.wildapricot.org/

BCAI Resources and Links—https://

bcai.wildapricot.org/page-18062

Adaptive Outdoors —http://adaptiveoutdoorsman.com/

handicapfishing.html

Contacts

Ben Jelsma - ben@jelsema.cc Bill Pepito - billpepito@gmail.com Central Region - Michael R Brand Northeast Region - James Byrd Southern Region - Bill Pepito

Western Region - Tim Beaty

Fly-Fishing Show Success

We had very positive first steps with the new program for Scouts in partnership with

the Fly Fishing Show. First of all - my hearty thanks for the support from the gentle-

men from the Committee - Doug Precourt and Tim Rosseien - for their onsite sup-

port of the program! And an extra note of thanks for the volunteers from FFI who

supported a huge part of the program in their learning center.

Though there is much room for growth and improvement, I’m happy to report that

we saw our first completed passport during the fly-fishing show season. Perhaps

more important - and broadly encouraging - this first Scout to complete the program

was a Cub... and (as pictured with me below) SHE left beaming!

I hope you share in my excitement here - this young lady came without knowledge

of the program... and left a proud angler! — Scott Hunter

In Memory of CAI Nicolas “Nick” Rodriguez Miralles March 17, 1961 ~ February 26, 2019 (age 57)

Nicolas “Nick” Rodriguez 57, Gallitzin died February

26, 2019 at UPMC Altoona. Born March 17, 1961 in

Cuba the son of Nicolas Rodriguez Ortiz and Mila-

dys Miralles Salazar. Preceded in death by an infant

son Nicolas Cisco in 1999 and his father Survived

by his wife the former Roberta Knee whom he mar-

ried October 1, 1994 at St. Patrick Church, Gallitzin,

his daughter Marisa and son Jon both at home, his

mother, sister Miladys Gonzalez, nephews, Ely,

Manuel (Jennifer) and Daniel (Vanessa) Gonzalez

all of Miami and numerous great nieces and neph-

ews. Nick loved the beach and ocean, outdoors, fly

fishing and was an avid reader. Volunteered with Boy Scouts Troop 2059 and Cub

Scout Pack 2059. Social member of Gallitzin American Legion, Moose and Sports-

men Club. Member of Knights of Columbus and St. Demetrius Catholic Church,

Gallitzin where Memorial Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Albert Ledoux cele-

brant. The family suggest donations be made to Gallitzin Public Library, 411 Con-

vent Street, Gallitzin, PA 16641 in Nick’s memory.