NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Pequest Hosts Project ChalleNGe Program for Fishing Education for 10th Year

Pequest Hosts Project ChalleNGe Program for Fishing Education for 10th Year

The New Jersey National Guard Youth ChallenNGe Program has incorporated a fishing education experience for its participants since the program began 10 years ago. Based at Fort Dix, the program gives at-risk 16-18 year-old boys and girls a second chance at completing their high school diploma while learning valuable life skills.

The program includes physical training, field trips, job skills, community service and mentoring in addition to high school classes. It is a 22-week program that can help kids focus on their future while they complete their education. The program is free of charge to the participants – it is funded jointly by the National Guard and federal grants.

Fishing education fits in with the National Guard’s mission of providing healthy lifestyle alternatives to drug and alcohol use. Many of the cadets have never had the opportunity to fish before, and are thrilled by the chance to catch a lunker trout in the education pond. The fishing trip always concludes with a trout feast back at the base.

Project ChalleNGe participants with trout.
Click to enlarge

For more information about the New Jersey ChalleNGe Youth Program, call 800-997-5587 or visit www.ngycp.org/state/nj.