A Montana teacher whose students were in Hooked On Fishing – Not on Drugs® said, “I found this program to be the single most influential experience my students were exposed to. They learned, they grew as students, and they gained confidence as they experienced nature and developed new skills. They also developed teamwork and a sense of responsibility. I found lots of opportunities to spin other academics from their interest in fishing.”
The program is one of over 400 conservation education programs implemented by state fish and wildlife agencies. Across Montana, upper elementary students are participating in an interactive yearlong fishing education program called HOF, which is modeled after the national program. Begun in three Montana classrooms in 1996, HOF is currently conducted in over 30 states with thousands of programs across the country.
Another teacher stated, “It is one of the special things we can offer here in Montana which has a lasting impact on students and the environment. It also involves parents in ways that I have not seen in any other program during my 20+ years in education, and it involves parents who may not normally volunteer in school/classroom activities.”
In this study specifically, the Hooked On Fishing program was administered for one year in 70 public and private schools throughout the state of Montana. Students in the program scored significantly higher on tests of knowledge gain and skill development, and 97% of teachers using the program said they “would highly recommend the program to other teachers,” and that the program provides “safe, hands-on and new experiences” that help students “gain self confidence through learning a lifelong skill.”