Urban and Community Fisheries Programs: Development, Management, and Evaluation

Abstract

<em>Abstract.-</em>The MinnAqua Program, the angling and aquatic education program of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, was established in 1989. Its purpose was to introduce urban youth in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to fishing. MinnAqua has since grown notably, expanding into a successful statewide program reaching over 40,000 people a year, still with a focus on angler recruitment and retention. In addition, the MinnAqua Program also recognizes that fishing provides a powerful context for environmental education, which gets kids outdoors and can serve to foster the development of systems-based awareness, environmental knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and can consequently lay a foundation for active stewardship of Minnesota’s aquatic resources. Through 2000, programming occurred in both formal (schools) and nonformal education settings; however, MinnAqua had been especially effective in reaching out to youth in nonformal settings. In 2001, the decision was made to update the Leader’s Guide to create a tool to aid in strengthening and expanding the program’s outreach in all areas, especially in the formal setting. The new <em>Fishing: Get in the Habitat! </em>MinnAqua Program Leader’s Guide was created and published in June of 2007. This innovative and comprehensive angling and aquatic education curriculum guide is being delivered throughout Minnesota to classroom teachers. To date, over 500 Minnesota educators have received this new guide. One way that educators and youth program leaders receive the guide is by attending a MinnAqua facilitated training workshop. Opportunities for making the publication available for downloading from the Internet are currently being reviewed.