Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Podcast with Liz Jackson (DEP Website)

New Jersey's Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program provides a great opportunity to get kids involved in positive recreational activities. Growing up in a big city, my parents saw value in having me spend my summers outdoors enjoying nature. These experiences afforded me the chance to discover that there is more to the world and my role in it than what the concrete jungle has to offer. Likewise, the goal of this program is to introduce youth to the fun and excitement of fishing, and to engage them in meaningful life skills, so that they also can imagine unlimited possibilities for themselves. Liz Jackson, HOFNOD Coordinator

HOFNOD FAQs

Fishing is an activity that can be started at any age by any person regardless of gender, physical size or athletic ability. Fishing can also be enjoyed individually or with family and friends. A great way to introduce youth to fishing is through the "Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs" (HOFNOD) Program.

"Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs" is a unique, nationally recognized program created by the Future Fisherman Foundation. In 2012, former Governor Christie signed legislation establishing the statewide implementation of the HOFNOD program. The legislation provided initial funding through an appropriation of $200,000 from the state's Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund. (See below for the identical State Assembly and Senate bills.)

The goal of New Jersey's program is to encourage school-aged children to avoid tobacco, drug and alcohol usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills. The program will provide students with access to extracurricular outlets that utilize New Jersey’s incredible outdoor recreational assets. The NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife wants to partner with schools, community- and faith-based youth organizations willing to provide on-going and sustained engagement in HOFNOD activities throughout the year. The "Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs" program is flexible enough to be offered in different ways, such as: a weekly enrichment activity in summer youth programs an on-going educational physical education activity in after school settings integrated into grades 4-12 school curricula as a year-round supplemental activity of community-based youth organizations (e.g. Youth Corps, Boys/Girls Clubs and faith-based entities) HOFNOD is an excellent way for young people to participate in constructive recreation and to develop a positive sense of self-worth. The program helps: nurture self-esteem and confidence develop higher order critical thinking and problem-solving skills reveal alternate activities for young people instead of the pitfalls of drug and alcohol use foster opportunities and build skills to explore freshwater & marine careers

During the program, students learn:

• freshwater and marine ecosystems
• proper outdoor ethics and being a good steward of their local environment
• respect for themselves, others and the world around them
• how, when and where to fish
• life skills like preparing and cooking their catch

Division Director Larry Herrighty, IBSP Superintendent Jen Clayton and HOFNOD Coordinator Liz Jackson (back row from left), and DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe (center), join a high school team at the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament on May 20, 2018. Click to enlarge

Adult-led lessons provide students with hands-on, real life experience and incorporate peer teaching and mentoring in the process. Guest experts can be used to teach supplemental sessions like fly tying and casting, spearfishing, introduction to SCUBA diving, kayaking and boating safety. Available funding through the HOFNOD program may be used to offset the cost of staff training & materials, fishing and program gear, and transportation for youth fishing trips. Another activity HOFNOD teams can participate in is the Youth Fishing Challenge, held each year on New Jersey's first (of two) Free Fishing Days. Registered youth participants are eligible to receive prizes for the fish they catch during the event. The core message of the "Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs" program is that you don't need to use tobacco, alcohol or drugs to have fun! It's the type of program that not only will help reduce drug and alcohol use in youth, but will also bring families closer together by giving them an inexpensive outdoor recreation activity they can all participate in. For more information call 908-637-4125 ext. 122 or e-mail hofnod@dep.nj.gov. HOFNOD Team Registration Form (pdf, 210kb) HOFNOD Youth Registration and Photo Release Agreement (pdf, 100kb)

HOFNOD Teams
The HOFNOD program is organized in community teams found throughout the state. Teams are led by Team Leaders who dedicate their time, skills and energy conducting the program for local youths. Want to find a local HOFNOD Team? Locate a group near you from the list below:

ATLANTIC Atlantic County Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Coalition 4805 Nawakwa Blvd. Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Adam Erskine - Erskine_Adam@aclink.org Cell: 609-675-1385 Sheriff's Dept.: 609-909-7200 Adam Witcraft, Atlantic County Parks and Rec Manager 109 State Hwy 50 South Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Adam Witcraft - Witcraft_Adam@aclink.org 609-625-7000 x5400 Fax: 609-645-5868 BERGEN Hackensack River Junior Stewardship Hackensack Riverkeeper 231 Main St. Hackensack, NJ 07047 Jodi Jamieson - jodi@hackensackriverkeeper.org BURLINGTON Burl-Cam HOFNOD 60 Huntington Drive Southampton, NJ 08088 Heather Milloy - heathertricoche@comcast.net 609-234-1357 Vic Gorin - vgorin@creativemachining.com 609-468-6106 CAMDEN HOFNOD Gloucester Township H.O.F.N.O.D.G.T. Hazel & Kendrick Aves. Sicklerville, NJ Bob Johnston - hofnodgt@yahoo.com 856-491-5366 www.hofnodgt.com CUMBERLAND Commercial Twp. Recreation Department 69 East Avenue Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Kevin Young - kevyoung67@yahoo.com 856-785-1611 Compass Academy Hooked on Fishing 4-H Club Downe Township Hooked on Fishing 4-H Club Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County 291 Morton Avenue Millville, NJ 08332 Donna Griebau, 4-H Program Assistant - donnagr@co.cumberland.nj.us 856-451-2800 x3 www.cumberland4h.org Cumberland County HOFNOD 4H P.O. Box 181 Heislerville, NJ 08324 Joe Haase - Joseph.Haase@yahoo.com Cell/text: 856-332-4834 Millville Police Department, PAL School Resource Officer / Traffic Safety Unit 18 S. High St. PO Box 609 Millville, NJ 08332 Officer Richard Kott #104 - Richard.kott@pd.millvillenj.gov Cell: 856-498-3309 Work: 856-825-7010 x7623 ESSEX ASPIRA, Inc. of New Jersey 390 Broad Street, 3rd Floor Newark, NJ 07104 Elena Larranaga - elarranaga.aspiranj@gmail.com 973-484-7554 x215 www.aspira.org East Orange Department of Recreation 1 Fellowship Circle East Orange, NJ 07017 Stanley Edwards - stanley.edwards@eastorange-nj.gov 973-414-4141 Quitman Street Community School 21 Quitman Street Newark, NJ 07103 Jessica Allen 973-733-6947 www.nps.k12.nj.us/qtm/ HUNTERDON Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission 37 Hoffman's Crossing Road Califon, New Jersey 07830 Dennis R. Balodis - DBalodis@HunterdonESC.org Work: 908-439-4280 x4510 Cell: 908-963-9595 www.HunterdonESC.org MONMOUTH Jersey Devil Kids Camp Jersey Devil Sportfishing Captain Brian Rice - brian@jerseydevilsportfishing.com 732-996-6372 www.jerseydevilcharters.com OCEAN Reel Fun Fishing Boating Education And Rescue (BEAR) Mike & Debbie Bennett - bear@boatingeducationandrescue.org 732-492-4009 www.boatingeducationandrescue.com PASSAIC Silk City Anglers City of Paterson/DHHS- Municipal Alliance Prevention Program 125 Ellison St. Paterson, NJ 07505 Tenee Joyner - tjoyner@patersonnj.gov W. Raheem Smallwood - wsmallwood@patersonnj.gov 973-321-1242 Compete For Life (21st Century Community Learning Centers) New Jersey Community Development Corporation 61-127 Preakness Ave. - Room 105A Paterson, NJ 07522 Lynn Yakimik - lyakimik@paterson.k12.nj.us 973-945-6466 SUSSEX Byram Intermediate School 3 Highland Ave. Andover, NJ 07821 Betty Saar, Special Educator 973-271-4658 www.byramschools.org High Point Regional High School High Point Outdoor Recreation Program HOFNOD 299 Pidgeon Hill Road Sussex, NJ 07461 Ed Blevins - surfkaster@optonline.net 973-875-3101 Sussex County HOFNOD 4H 35 Newton Avenue Branchville, NJ 07826 Natalie Burger - info@hiddenpasturesalpacas.com 973-948-6800 Rory Halpin - RoryH@advancere.com 732-713-2567 UNION City of Plainfield - Division of Parks & Recreation 510 Watchung Avenue Plainfield, NJ 07060 Veronica Taylor, Superintendent of Parks & Recreation - veronica.taylor@plainfieldnj.gov 908-753-3096 www.plainfieldnj.gov/cms.aspx?page_id=214&page_name=Recreation Team Linden Linden, NJ Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling - rcosbyhurling@linden-nj.org Councilwoman, Ward 5 908-718-7933 WARREN Spring Valley Sunnies Ridge and Valley Conservancy White Lake Natural Resource Area 120 Stillwater Rd. Hardwick, NJ 07825 James Watling - james@ridgeandvalleyconservancy.org Click photos to enlarge

Resources
Fishing Education
Teacher/Education Resources
FunNewJersey.com (Fun things to do with kids in NJ)

Enabling Legislation
To view the enabling legislation (Assembly Bill 638 and Senate Bill 178) use the Bill Search feature on the State Legislature's site as follows:

1) Go to the Legislature's Homepage
2) In the Bill Search section enter A638 or S178 in the Bill Number(s) box.
3) Select the 2012-2013 Legislative Session
4) Click 'Search'