OutdoorNebraska

12 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • 2018 Annual Report B I L I N G U A L F A M I L Y F I S H I N G E V E N T S N E W I N 2 0 1 8 The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission was awarded a Vamos a Pescar grant by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation for the first time in 2018. These grants allow fish and game agencies to reach out to Spanish speaking audiences. Game and Parks provided equipment, bait and fishing instruction in English and Spanish at 10 events throughout the summer. Additionally, recreational boating was provided at Fishing Fiesta, a special event at Lake Wanahoo that commemorated Latino Conservation Week. Seventeen informational sessions about enjoying the outdoors responsibly also were given in the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas at Hispanic centers and community gatherings. Through social media and other promotional campaigns, more than 90 posts were made on a variety of pages. In all, the grant helped Game and Parks reach 1,282 people. The agency's work making community connections with the Latino/immigrant communities was its most significant accomplishment. C A B E L A ' S F I S H I N G S U P P L I E S P R O G R A M M A K E S I T E A S Y T O G E T S T A R T E D In an attempt to help new anglers obtain the basic equipment they need, Cabela's and Game and Parks partnered on the New Angler Experience Pilot. Five endcap displays were created at the La Vista store with new anglers in mind. These showcased affordable quality fishing gear, educational graphics, and informational brochures and activity suggestions. Family Fishing Event participants interested in acquiring fishing equipment were encouraged to visit the store. As a motivation, a coupon for a free tackle box was supplied to the lead parent of each Family Fishing Event group during Lincoln and Omaha area events. One hundred tackle boxes were given to those visiting the La Vista Cabela's, which meant that 24 percent of those receiving coupons at Family Fishing Events ultimately visited the store and display. O N L I N E B O A T E R E D U C A T I O N H E L P S B O A T E R S S T A Y S A F E The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's online boater education course, which became available in 2017, has generated much interest. Of the 3,046 students who successfully completed boater education in 2018, 2,271 used the online version and 775 took the classroom course. Boat registrations numbered nearly 88,000 in 2018. FAMILY FISHING NIGHT AT HALLECK LAKE IN PAPILLION IN SARPY COUNTY

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