The grant funds four mini-clinics for underserved youth groups in the community, as well as three clinics open to the public
Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 17, 2024 – Timucuan Parks Foundation (TPF) and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve were awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Park Foundation to support the Junior Ranger Angler Fishing program through November 2024. TPF uses the grant to fund fishing clinics that introduce outdoor opportunities and healthy recreation to underserved and underrepresented youth, including girls, urban teens, and youth from military families. The Junior Ranger Angler fishing clinics are a collaborative effort between TPF, the National Park Service’s Timucuan Preserve, the City of Jacksonville, Talbot Islands State Parks, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Last summer, TPF and its park partners hosted four mini-clinics for groups of underserved youth, including teenage black boys from LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation), Latino girls from American Heritage Girls, middle-school girls from Foundation Academy, and the military’s Blue Star Families. Three full Junior Ranger Angler Fishing clinics are also included in the grant. The next one, which will be open to the public (registration required), will be held in conjunction with the Talbot Tidewater Celebration at the Ribault Club in Ft. George Island Cultural State Park on Sept. 28.
“We are grateful for this National Park Foundation grant, which allows us and our park partners to introduce these young people to our area’s parks and preserves through these fishing clinics,” said Felicia Boyd, program and outreach director for TPF. “This program is a way to introduce these youth and their families to an asset right here in Jacksonville that is so beneficial and one they might not be introduced to otherwise. We have designed our program to be inclusive and educational as well as fun for these kids and their families.”
Each fishing clinic includes lessons on ethical angling and how to properly use fishing poles, hooks, lures, and nets. They are taught the basics of knot tying, baiting, and casting. The clinics also include a cultural component with demonstrations on the African American Gullah Geechee fishing heritage and promote awareness of and appreciation for the ecology of Jacksonville’s parks, preserves, and surrounding waters.
To support the Junior Ranger Angler program, the National Park Foundation provides grants to parks, park partners, and community organizers to facilitate in-park fishing clinics, set up gear libraries, and more. The program leverages fishing as an immersive experience for children, families, and communities to gain new skills, connect with park rangers, and build lifelong relationships with parks.
Any individuals, foundations or companies interested in sponsoring a future Junior Ranger Angler Clinic can contact Mateo Rogers at mrogers@timucuanparks.org to learn more.
About Timucuan Parks Foundation
The Timucuan Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that preserves, promotes and enhances Jacksonville’s natural areas through community engagement, education and enjoyment. The foundation originated in 1999 with the Preservation Project Jacksonville, Inc. to identify and assist in acquiring the most vulnerable and environmentally sensitive lands in Duval County. The acquisition of lands created the largest urban park system in the United States. The Timucuan Parks Foundation works with its park partners, including the National Park Service, Florida State Parks and the City of Jacksonville, to promote environmental stewardship, the health benefits of the parks and preserves, and an appreciation for Jacksonville’s special outdoor spaces. For more information, visit timucuanparks.org or follow @timucuanparks.