The Bass Federation Unveils TBF National Education Program

Taking Fishing, Family Fun, The Outdoors Experience Into America’s School Systems

Ponca City, Okla. (May 2, 2007) – Before a crowd of excited students, teachers, The Bass Federation (TBF) state presidents and TBF state conservation directors, The Bass Federation presented the first official look at its new National Education Program April 20 during the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard in Charlotte, N.C.

Students and teachers from three Charlotte-area junior high schools participated in the 50-minute program, which has been tested and refined over the last several months by TBF representatives in schools across the nation. The program is designed to teach students about career and educational opportunities available through fishing. It also illustrates how the basic elements of their education are used every day by anglers to catch more fish.

TBF Vice President Mike Dunkerley and National Youth Director Mark Gintert discussed science, math and language skills and how they play an important part in the lives of the professional anglers that the students see on FSN (Fox Sports Net) every weekend. Dunkerley and Gintert also explained how the skills play a roll in everyday life and discussed the business end of professional angling and job opportunities that are being created in the sport.

“This is a great opportunity to illustrate to students the importance of basic learning skills like math, English and science,” Dunkerley said. “These are tools that they can use while fishing and take with them through life in any profession. It is our mission to impress upon students the importance of those skills while having some fun doing it. So TBF outlined the basics of the program last year and then we took it to the professionals, the public school system teachers and educators, and tested it around the United States for a few months to get their input and expertise on it. What the public saw in Charlotte was the result of all that.”

“Once under way, we have a goal and a marketing plan that should allow us to impact at least 200,000 students per year through an assembly type format or a classroom DVD,” Gintert said. “In addition to educating students, we also want to provide an opportunity for them to get involved in school fishing clubs or TBF Junior clubs. It’s time to reintroduce our young people to the great outdoors and all that it has to offer. It is clean family fun that anyone can do.”

 The Federation currently has a sponsorship package available to fund this program in its National Campaign. Anyone interested in getting involved should contact TBF President Robert Cartlidge (Robert@bassfederation.com) or Gintert (mark@bassfederation.com).

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 35 years. In 2006 TBF partnered with the largest tournament operations and marketing organization in the world, FLW Outdoors.

For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031

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For more information about FLW Outdoors, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-252-1000