By Brian Kratky, TPWD AED Volunteer Instructor

I'm both a TPWD volunteer and leader of the Northwest Sport Fishers, a Harris County 4-H Sportfishing project. I wanted to take a minute to highlight one of our anglers who has found a great way to cope with the challenges created by the COVID-19 virus.

Jayden Weidner is a talented 15-year-old young lady who loves to fish. She is one of our most avid anglers in the 4-H group. Many bass know and fear her name and when we had to cancel our last couple 4-H Sportfishing events of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, she found a great new way to channel her passion for fishing. 

She has used her creativity along with fishing knowledge to carve, paint, test and market custom fishing lures. Her creations are beautiful, lifelike, and impressive to say the least. Jayden loves to fish, and it has been fun to see her passion grow and branch out into different and creative directions. I feel Jayden’s story is awesome, so I just wanted to share with both the TPWD and 4-H community. I know all of us have had things taken from us here lately, which is why it has been so fun to see this new interest spring to life for Jayden during this period of change in life for us all. These are a few pictures of Jayden and some of her custom baits created in her new workshop.

By Michael Scherer, TPWD AED Volunteer Area Chief and Fishing's Future Executive Director

“Teaching outdoors indoors” is one of those thoughts that has never crossed my mind. Being the Executive Director for Fishing’s Future and an Angler Education AREA Chief volunteer with Texas Parks and Wildlife always finds me in front of a class teaching basic angler education somewhere in Texas. Who would have thought that we would have to practice social distancing, close schools and businesses and stop all social gatherings?

Looking through my calendar and emails and cancelling event after event, I had to find a way to continue my passion as a volunteer. Shane Wilson, founder of Fishing’s Future and I got on the phone to start the planning phase of virtual classes. We wanted to be sure our online classes were interactive with the kids and families but would still be the experience we would give them if they were at one of our Family Fish Camps: a 4 to 6-hour outdoor, basic education class. My wife, Elizabeth came up with the name “Interactive Online Experience” Family Fish Camps.

Off to the garage to find items that can make this work. A few spotlights, a Fishing’s Future photo backdrop, a laptop, a monitor, and the trusty TPWD Angler Education instructor kit. Everything you need to teach basic fishing.

We had started to search for what computer applications we were going to need and settled on Zoom video conferencing (http://zoom.us) since the service had everything we needed and it was free, with limits. We started in the garage to build a small studio, started test gatherings to be sure our home internet service would handle the stress, had meetings with our Fishing’s Future Katy Chapter Master Angler, Brenda Shaver, setup more gatherings and testing, and yes! This was all done in 1 day.

We have moved the studio indoors and have started online registration classes using Eventbrite. We began by offering 40-minute Basic Knots, Fish ID, and Basic Tackle Classes starting on Apr 1, 2020. Then, on Apr 7^th I had an Interactive online experience class for the Bear Scouts to help them with their “A Bear Goes Fishing” elective. Class registration is already showing scouts from Texas, Kansas, South Caroline, and New Jersey. With TPWD approval for the course, our team certified numerous teachers as TPWD Angler Education instructors who will be ready in the fall to teach their students.

Even with all this excitement going on, and all the many hours I have shared my passion, I once again feel the butterflies in my stomach like I had when I did my first class with Greg Akins.

We all have a passion to share and can do more together even during times that we have to gather apart. Think and teach outside your comfort zone.

(Screenshot photo by Michael Scherer)

By Willard Franklin III, TPWD AED Volunteer Area Chief and CEO of the Four W's Fishing Team and Four W's Outdoors

The Four W’s Fishing Team promotes diversity, inclusion, conservation, destinations, business, careers and training in the outdoors industry. We have made major changes to how we provide TPWD Angler Education going forward post COVID-19. We are following the CDC, city and county guidelines for public gatherings.

PLANNING & EQUIPMENT We start our classes with a COVID-19 and personal safety briefing. We bring sanitizer, soap and water, Lysol wipes, paper towels and trash cans set up on a separate table. We have one of our volunteers help run this table. 

One of our changes is to have classes outdoors only. We use our 10X10 pop up tents or trees for shade. All students and instructors bring their own chairs, face masks, drinking water, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray. They are not allowed to share any of these items.

CLASS SIZE We limit the size to 10 students with 2 instructors per 5 students. This is a big difference from our normal class sizes of 100 or more. (We would educate 1,000 kids a day on Basic Angler Education before COVID-19 in the schools.) We may have more than 10 students going through the training at one time, but they are separated into 10 person groups in different stations. We use the same set-up for our 10 student groups and space stations 20 -30 feet apart. We rotate stations as a group.

SET-UP We set up our training stations as usual with our tables and pop-up tents, but we have a 6-foot barrier in front of our training tables. We use 10-foot 1/2-inch PVC plumbing pipes to form our barricades around the instructor's tables. We like the PVC because it’s simple, easy to set up and won’t blow away. Large Hula Hoops are used to separate the students and practice social distancing. We place them 6-7 feet apart. Students place their chairs inside the Hula Hoops to keep their social distancing. The Hola Hoops are also used for distancing with our casting demonstrations and fishing. Fishing poles are separated in rod holders for better distribution. Once students pick a rod from the holder they are to keep it until class time is over. Students can carry their gear to each of their stations and work from inside the circle. The Hula Hoops are a great social distance tool as they are simple to deploy and won’t blow away. A great way to continue Angler Education Safely!

The Four W’s Fishing Team continues promoting the outdoors and bringing people outdoors. We have some events and projects coming up in remaining 2020. We are finishing shooting an episode for TPWD TV showcasing our outdoor education programming. In October, we are bringing The National Pediatric Society Fishing Tournament to Galveston for its second year. October 3rd and 4th we are hosting a Kayak fishing tournament for Rockport Chamber of Commerce.

Let’s go outdoors. 

(Photo courtesy of Willard Franklin III)

By Chad Etheridge, TPWD AED Volunteer Area Chief

As anglers we know that fish have memory. Just think about that one huge wily old trout that merely eyes your perfectly tied Elk Hair Caddis every single flawless drift right over his nose, only to quickly rise as soon as it passes to gulp in the real live fly riding the same seam current right behind it. It got to be big and old by using its memory to distinguish the real from the imitation. I know that it's extremely frustrating to be outsmarted by something with a brain the size of a pea, but perhaps we can learn from our highly observant quarry and increase our own memory power.

One of the subjects that we teach as Instructors is fish identification. Participants key in on features unique to each species that trigger their brains to recall the identity of the fish. As I was thinking about ways in which we use our memories I recalled the old memory matching games that we used to play as kids. You know the one where all the cards are turned face down, you turn one over and try to remember where the matching picture was located. Once you had a match those two were removed and you continued on. I thought this would be a fun way to teach fish identification and developed this version of the game.  It can be used as a station at a large event for kids and introduced to adult instructor trainees at a volunteer instructor course.

The two different sets that I came up with are made from materials that are very easily obtained. You only need some of the 2” round fish stickers and some of the laminated fish identification cards that we hand out. For the stickers I used 2” wooden circles that can be found at craft stores or Amazon.com. I painted one side blue and simply attached the stickers to the opposite side.

For the larger more detailed game, I cut out each Freshwater/Saltwater species with the name below from the laminated fish identification cards. I used wooden rectangles sized 2 x 3 inches which can also be obtained from craft stores or Amazon.com. This time I painted both sides. After they dried, I attached each fish cut out with Mod Podge glue (available at same places) and covered the entire wooden rectangles with a generous amount. I applied two coats to give a very strong protective layer. 

For the Freshwater/Saltwater fish labels I simply cut out a wooden arrow that would hold the label and applied Mod Podge in the same manor. The arrow points the same direction as the corresponding fish pictures. This is a way for folks to learn whether the fish are Freshwater Fish or Saltwater Fish simply by the direction the fish is facing.

For both games the tiles are simply laid face down and the search begins! For the larger game once a match has been found the tiles are placed under the appropriate Freshwater/Saltwater header tiles which are set on each side of the laid-out tiles.  These games could easily be made from card stock and laminated instead of the wood tiles. I just personally like the tactile feel of the wooden tiles. You could also make a game out of the Texas Sunfish cards.

Hopefully these simple, but effective games of Fish Memory will find a way into your instructor kit and be used to teach fish identification to future generations of anglers that will all too soon realize that fish also definitely have memories! Enjoy!

(Photos courtesy of Chad Etheridge)

By Greg Akins, TPWD Aquatic Education Training Specialist & Kevin Malonson, TPWD Game Warden Recruiter

Many of you may remember Angler Education Volunteer Area Chief Glenn Miller, from the Houston region. He was a passionate naturalist and educator dedicated to the education of youth and adults and was the Executive Director of the Nature Heritage Society until his death in 2013.

In an effort to carry forward Glenn’s legacy, the planning committee for the Houston region Ag. Science Conservation Camp recently voted to change the name of the camp to the Glenn Miller Ag. Science Conservation Camp.  

After several years of planning with multiple community partners, the first Ag. Science Conservation summer camp was held in 2019 for 21 students. Mr. Roy D. Malonson, owner of the RS Deer & Cattle Ranch in Waller County, generated the initial discussion of starting a summer camp opportunity to create an interest among urban minority youth for agriculture & conservation. 

Marcus Glenn, of the Black United Fund of Texas, is the President of the Ag Science & Conservation Camp. Additional camp partners include The Acres Home Chamber for Business & Economic Development, Four W’s Fishing Team, Nature Heritage Society, RS Deer & Cattle Ranch, the TPWD CO-OP Program, Outreach and Education Programs and Law Enforcement Division. 

With the COVID-19 situation, the 2020 summer camp was initially put on hold. However, the committee wanted to maintain the momentum of the new camp and has decided to offer a virtual camp this summer. Prairie View A&M University and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo have entered into partnership with the camp to accomplish this new approach and expand the opportunity for 100 urban youth, ages 8 to 14 years old in grades 3^rd – 8^th. 

Although COVID-19 has negatively impacted many events, the camp leadership has adjusted their sails to move forward to provide a unique opportunity for youth and to honor the legacy of Glenn Miller.

Hello everyone! My name is Amanda Wenzel and I am very excited to work for TPWD this Summer. I am a senior at Auburn University, War Eagle! majoring in Natural Resources Management with a minor in Urban Environmental Studies. I was born and raised in Waco, Texas by parents who taught me how to love and appreciate the outdoors. In high school I wrote and presented my senior thesis on the importance of outdoor education which helped me see that I wanted to pursue a career in natural resources. In my free time, I like to go hiking with my dog, kayaking, visiting state and national parks with friends and family, painting and fishing. I am so grateful that I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of the Aquatic Education team and to learn about the vital outreach programming they create.

(Photo courtesy of Amanda Wenzel)

Howdy! My name is Stephanie Hendricks and I am excited to be the Summer 2020 Angler Education intern for TPWD in the Houston area. I am from Tomball, Texas and I am currently studying Marine Biology at Texas A&M at Galveston and will graduate in spring 2021. During the school year, I am the Oceanography Supplemental Instructor which allows me to help others as well as have a creative outlet. Aside from tutoring, I work in the genetics lab with jellyfish and DNA barcoding. In my free time I love playing with my dogs, photography, hiking, and traveling. My ultimate goal is to pursue a Masters in genetics and my dream job would be to work in conservation by genetically modifying coral to help combat climate change. During this internship, I hope to learn more about fish species/identification as well as aquatic environments and use this knowledge and experience to further my career in Marine Biology. 

(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Hendricks)

Karen Marks, Aquatic Education Manager

Wow, so much has changed since our last newsletter in January! We hope that you and your family are doing well during these challenging and unique times.

Many of us have been personally touched not only by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by the social justice issues that have been in the news this summer. At a recent National Association for Interpretation webinar on Race, Social Justice and Interpretation, the speaker asked, “How do you know you’re not being welcoming?” The first step to understanding others perception of you is to develop a self-awareness and recognize your blind spots. If you would like to explore your own attitudes and beliefs, check out the Harvard Implicit Association Test that the speakers recommended. I know many of you strive to be inclusive and reach out to many different groups. We can all open a sacred space for difficult reflection and honest conversations that will help us grow and improve as individuals.

On a lighter note, resident fishing license sales are up statewide – more and more people are going fishing. As studies have shown, spending time outdoors and on, in or near the water is very good for mental and physical health. Fishing is also a good way to spend time outdoors and safely social/physical distance from others. If your license expires in August, don’t forget to renew your license next month – you can renew online.

During the COVID-19 pandemic all Angler Education staff are telecommuting from home. Our office phones are forwarded to our cell phones, so we are still just a phone call or email away. Staff are adjusting to new routines, lots of video meetings, and still moving forward. Luckily, we have been able to hire two summer interns, please welcome Amanda Wenzel (Austin intern) and Stephanie Hendricks (Houston intern).

A NEW feature has been added to the online volunteer logbook reports! You can now upload a pdf or jpeg file to the logbook for a specific event. This could include the assistant volunteer roster, an event photo or if you’re an Area Chief, you can upload the roster with the new instructor names. The volunteer system will also soon have a new look for mobile phone platforms.

Some of you have waded into the online waters and we applaud your efforts to continue to teach others about fishing. We have purchased a Zoom account that will enable us to conduct online meetings and trainings. With the shift to an online world, Heather has updated many of our forms, reports and certificates to make them fillable online. Just remember to download the form(s) before you begin filling them out.  Additional documents are now available to our certified instructors on the Instructor’s Resource webpage: Best Practices for Teaching Online; Class Decision Tool Tree; Best Practices for Cleaning Equipment; and a COVID-19 Protocol form that is required for all in-person class supply orders, volunteer recruitment requests, or equipment loans. Your health and safety, and of those that you serve, are our top priority. Each of you is a representative of TPWD, and we rely on you to make good choices that will reduce the risks of transmitting the coronavirus.

You may have heard that the next Outdoor Annual 2020-2021 (hunting and fishing regulations) will be online! It will no longer be available in print to people when they purchase a hunting or fishing license due to the loss of the underwriting sponsor. However, the information is available on the TPWD webpage in English and Spanish, or one may download the App. Both the Hunter and Angler Education programs will continue to make available a limited number of printed copies of the Hunting and Fishing Regulations for use in classes where the online or app version can not be utilized. Be sure to check for new fishing regulations for the “new year” that begins on September 1.

Stay well and healthy, even if it’s online.

(Photos courtesy of Facebook  and TPWD website)