Youth Participation Initiative Grant Recipients Announced

The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks recently invested $160,000 in statewide youth programs aimed at increasing youth involvement in the outdoor sports.

Jackson – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Youth Participation Initiative Grant awards.

The Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program was formally created through efforts by the Mississippi Legislature, Dr. Sam Polles, and the MDWFP Commission.  The grant program was established to provide funding for the purpose of educating youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and safety.

MDWFP is pleased to announce that 33 applications were received totaling nearly $900,000 in requested funding with matching monetary and in-kind donations tallying over $1,000,000 for the proposed projects.  While the Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program was only authorized to award $160,000 this year, the interest generated from this initiative serves as an important indication of the amount of public interest there is in Youth Outreach and Recruitment.

MDWFP thanks each of the applicants that applied for funding under the Youth Participation Initiative and looks forward to working with each in the future to increase Youth Outreach and Recruitment in the great outdoors of the State of Mississippi.

The organizations and programs are:

• MS Raccoon Hunters Association – Youth Extravaganza

• Treestand Manufactures Association – Mississippi Youth Treestand Safety Initiative

• Quail Unlimited – Oktibbeha County Introducing Youth to the Great Out-of-Doors

• Mississippi Bowhunters Association – Mississippi Archery in Schools Initiative

• Mississippi National Wild Turkey Foundation -Mississippi Archery in the Schools Program

• Mississippi NWTF – Wheelin’ Sportsman Deer Hunt

• Delta Waterfowl – Youth Waterfowl Hunting and Education Initiative

• Ducks Unlimited – Youth Waterfowl Hunting and Education Initiative

• Mississippi State University (Rick Kaminski) – Youth Waterfowl Hunting and Education Initiative

• Delta Wildlife – Youth Waterfowl Hunting and Education Initiative

• Mississippi Quail Forever – Introducing New Hunters to Quail Hunting in Mississippi

• Mississippi BASS Federation – Camp Fish

• Safari Land Learning Center – West Bolivar Outreach Project

• Leake Co. Chamber of Commerce – Leake’s Safety Expo for 5th Graders

• Jackson Outdoor Education Center – Youth Participation Initiative Program

• Horne Lake High School ROTC – Horn Lake High Hunter’s Education, Safety, & Marksmanship Program

• Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain – Wet a Hook

• Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi – Streets to Skeets

• Mississippi State University (Grady Turner) – Youth Conservationist, Hunters and Anglers Program

• Baxterville Schools – Dates with Dads

• Maritime and Seafood Museum – Sea-n-Sail Adventure Camp

• Trinity Educators Development Corp. – Trinity Youth Outdoors Outreach

• Mississippi Wildlife Federation – Natural Resources Cooperative Youth Program

• Mississippi State University (Darryl Jones) – Natural Resources Education Center

More information about the Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program can be found by contacting Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Youth Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator Justin Wilder Thayer at 601.432.2014 or by e-mailing Justin.Thayer@mdwfp.state.ms.us.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply