Total Outdoors
New Non-Profit Will Develop Future Anglers and Conservationists
By
Reaching Out to Military Kids
Total Outdoors, a new non-profit in Union County, PA, is reaching out to the children of military families and developing future anglers as fly fishermen and outdoor sportsmen who will make conservation a life-long pursuit. The project will hold its first fishing camp for the children of Reserve Component families and families of the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard in June of 2011.
The project,
initiated by Bruce Fisher, proprietor of Penns Creek Angler, www.pennscreekangler.com,
officially received Federal tax-exempt status in January 2011.
Total Outdoors will begin conducting youth fishing and outdoor camps for
military children of our Reserve Components in June 2011, at its headquarters on
Penns Creek outside the village of Weikert, PA.
Saying
Thanks to our Military.
Beyond his business at Penns Creek Angler, Bruce Fisher has offered
instructional fly fishing weekends to fathers and sons over the past three
years. In addition to fly fishing,
these programs provided classes in outdoor field studies and environmental
conservation. Based on the success
of those outings, Fisher wanted to extend those programs to the children of
military families in appreciation for the sacrifices and selfless service of
their parents.
Vision
and Mission
The Total
Outdoors
vision
is developing future anglers and
outdoor enthusiast with a dedication and commitment to sportsmanship and
leadership in conservation. The
project’s mission is to provide educational and leadership programs for
today’s youth to learn the art of fly fishing while developing a deep
appreciation and understanding of environmental preservation and conservation.
First
Youth Camps Set for Summer
Total Outdoors will launch a pilot
program of weekend fishing camps on Penns Creek beginning the weekend of 17 June 2011. We are currently looking to recruit children (ages 10 to 18)
from families of our Reserve Components
and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG) and the Air
National Guard (PAANG). Pennsylvania
has the largest number of Reserve Component members and Guardsmen to have served
in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact,
there are over 70,000 "instant military" children in PA as a result of
numerous deployments.
According to Fisher, Total
Outdoors is working with PA CARES, (Pennsylvania Americans Showing
Compassion, Assistance and Reaching Out with Empathy for Service Members, www.pacares.org
) – a Task Force of Community Support organizations which includes the PA
Public Welfare; Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; and the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; these organizations have joined
together to assist our Reserve
Component military families during all phases of the deployment lifecycle.
Total Outdoors will
leverage PA CARES to recruit its initial groups of campers for its programs this
summer.
Total Outdoors is planning sixteen fishing camp weekends starting this summer. As Fisher explains the program, “Our young outdoorsmen will learn the art of fly fishing, the science of aquatic life that is the primary source of trout food, and some basic skills in outdoors field studies.” These classes will emphasize environmental preservation and conservation that is all part of the sport of angling, which is critical for any outdoors sportsman, Fisher notes.
Total Outdoors will
provide all the equipment, instruction, supplies, meals and lodging for the
weekend programs. There will be no charge to any of the young sportsmen.
Volunteers
Needed.
Total Outdoors is looking for volunteers to staff its camps. Contributions of time – and money – can be made on our Donation page or by contacting Mr. Bruce Fisher at www.pennscreekangler.com or www.totaloutdoors.org . Phone 570-922-1053 or 570-922-0002.
Total Outdoors, Inc. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.