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A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
St. LOUIS, Mo.— A lifelong passion for the outdoors and conservation might just begin with that first dip of a bobber.
That’s one of the reasons the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to help families and kids learn how to fish through its Discover Nature—Fishing (DNF) program. MDC is offering four DNF Teacher Workshops in the St. Louis region designed specifically for teachers that will enable them to integrate fishing into their school curricula. The workshops are between April and June at the following locations:
Fishing is a great way to engage students in outdoor pursuits and in learning about conservation. The DNF unit can be integrated into school curriculum to provide instruction that helps students gain the skills and confidence to go fishing on their own.
DNF consists of four progressive lessons that move newcomers through all the basics of the sport. The program teaches students about fishing equipment, casting, rigging a fishing rod, baiting a hook, and proper handling of fish. They also learn about fish identification, fish habitat, and how to stock a basic tackle box.
This DNF Educator Training Workshop will cover how to conduct the four DNF lessons, how to use DNF equipment, and how to schedule a fishing field trip. MDC will provide each participant with a Discover Nature — Fishing Instructor Guide, designed to help teachers teach students basic fishing. The workshop will outline detailed teaching strategies to help educators engage students and guide them toward understanding concepts and mastering the skills. Participants in this workshop will be eligible to obtain DNF teaching kits that include fishing poles and equipment used to conduct the four DNF lessons. They can also participate in the DNF – Schools transportation grant program. Possession of a current Missouri fishing permit is required for teachers/educators under the age of 65 to attend this workshop.
The DNF Educator Training Workshop is free to teachers and educators, but advance online registration is required. To register for these workshops, teachers should access the MDC Teacher Portal at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zyd and log in with account credentials. To create a new account, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZyP. There are other DNF workshops scheduled in other regions in the state as well.
For more information about the workshops, call 314-301-1500. To find out more about the DNF program, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zty.
