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BSA Fishing
Boy Scout Outdoor Program 1

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Your Instructor
Michael R. Brand, BSA Certified Angling Instructor Examiner
Member of the BSA National Fishing Task Force
Central Region Area #3 – Fishing Advocate / Lead
Boy Scout Service Experience;
Scoutmaster
Wood Badge Trained
Troop Level Boy Scout Fishing Program Event Lead
District Level Boy Scout Fishing Program Event Lead
Council Level Boy Scout Fishing Program Event Lead
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3. 3
Why Fishing?
"Every Scout ought to be able to fish in order to get food for himself. A tenderfoot [beginner] who starved on the bank of a river full of fish would look very silly, yet it might happen to one who had never learned to catch fish.“ - Baden-Powell In Scouting for Boys
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4. Why Fishing? 4 Outdoor Program Age & Skills Appropriate
Provides Angler Education
Provides Angling Experience
Method to Achieve our Aim in Scouting
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5. Survey Says? 5 Fishing is very popular with Scouts!
Fishing placed 4th (behind camping, swimming and bicycling), at 61%, as one of the most popular Scouting activities
83% of Boy’s Life subscribers like to fish
77% began fishing because of an older family member
71% of Cub Scouts are interested in earning a fishing belt loop
51% continue to encourage friends and family to fish
35% go fishing with their Scout Unit – an opportunity to do this more!
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6. 6
Fishing Merit Badge
The Fishing merit badge (Angler merit badge) was one of the original 57 merit badges offered.
More than 2 million Scouts have earned the Angling or Fishing Merit Badge.
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7. Fly-Fishing Merit Badge7
Fly-Fishing Merit Badge
The Fly-Fishing merit badge, the BSA’s newest angling badge, was introduced in 2002 and has earned attention within National Outdoor Programs.
Fly-Fishing is a specialized form of fishing that combines skill and artistry. The beauty of the water, the solitude, and the skills that the sport requires have made fly-fishing very important in the lives of many people.
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8. Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge8
Fish and Wildlife Management
Merit Badge
Originally called Wildlife Management when it was introduced in 1972, the Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge is the most challenging of the three fishing-related badges because of its required conservation projects.
The purpose is to encourage healthy fish and wildlife populations while preventing lost populations. Wildlife Management is the science and art of managing the wildlife—both animals and fish—with which we share our planet.
We use this stewardship tool to help minimize or eradicate the possibility of extinction of any given species. We want our descendants to have the opportunity to experience the same animal diversity that we now enjoy.
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9. BSA Complete Angler Recognition:9
BSA Complete Angler Recognition:
The recognition as developed by the BSA National Fishing Task Force and replaces the Certified Angler Award.
Complete Angler Recognition doesn’t require an online test.
Once a boy earns the three merit badges, he’s eligible to receive the patch.
The program is supported by the BSA Supply Group, which will deliver the newly designed awards, to Scout Shops. (Controlled-access means you can’t buy it online because you’ll need to prove a boy is eligible to earn it.)
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10. BSA Certified Angling Instructor10
BSA Certified Angling Instructor
• Official BSA certification for fishing and fly-fishing program and merit badge instructors
• Train the trainer position
• One who leads and executes fishing programs at the council level
• Fishing program advocate and resource for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing units
• Develop and support council fishing programs
• Qualified for national fishing staff positions at jamborees, Order of the Arrow conferences, and help train fishing staffs at all four BSA high-adventure bases
Training code for the Certified Angling Instructor program: CS61
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BSA Fishing - Cub Scout Program

11. Fishing is a Great Recruitment Program11
Fishing is a Great Recruitment Program
Personal Challenge:
Do you remember who taught you to fish? Or the first fish you ever caught? The first one you took off the hook?
Join us in delivering the Promise to our youth through fishing.
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