SFF has a long-standing tradition of outreach to publicize the benefits of fly-fishing and our club, as well as, giving back to the community in the form of volunteer opportunities. If you are inclined to help or are interested review the opportunities below and contact the club as indicated. If you have new ideas/opportunities contact the Board!
A 501(c)(3) organization that uses fly-fishing as a catalyst to mentor children in foster care. Our mission is to support children in foster care through fly fishing and introduce them to their local water ecosystems, with a hope that connecting them to a rewarding hobby will provide an opportunity for foster children to have fun, feel supported, and develop a meaningful connection with the outdoors.
SFF, along with The Mayfly Project sponsors a local program with many of the mentors being SFF members. The mentor team works with local foster homes to mentor foster youth. If you wish to lean more about this opportunity, please contact Scott Russell by using our Contact Us page, entering “For Scott Russell The Mayfly Project” in the email subject line and you will be contacted.
Youth Summer Fly Casting Program
In 2013 SFF began to participate in youth summer fishing and echo programs. The E. G. Simmons Eco Adventure Camp in Ruskin, Florida was our first summer and included 4 sessions of a total of 160 youths. The summer program was expanded to include the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in Apollo Beach, Florida, and for the last 2 years the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Park in Tampa, Florida. The program consists of introducing youths to fly fishing which includes discussing the art and science of all aspects of fly fishing, demonstrating how to fly cast, practicing using the paint brush drill and then casting at hula hoop targets. The youths are awarded a Certificate of Completion of the Junior Training Clinic for Fly Casting. This program was initially support by a generous grant from Fish Florida .
If interested talk to Tom Gadacz at one of our club meetings, or us our Contact Us page, entering “For Tom Gadacz Youth Summer Fly Casting Program” in the email subject line and you will be contacted.
MarineQuest
In 1995 the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) held its first MarineQuest open house. The event was created to inform the public about the research performed at the institute and to introduce the community to the world of marine science. The following year, MarineQuest expanded; FWRI added a second day to provide local schools and students with an opportunity to visit the institute. Over the years, the event has expanded to a three-day event that now welcomes thousands of visitors on the waterfront of St. Petersburg, FL.
SFF has been participating in MarineQuest since 2009. SFF members assist kids in tying a fly, which they get to keep along with a small fly box with the SFF logo. The kids have ranged in age from 3 to young teens. We often have youth return in subsequent years. They get to choose the color of and the material they will use to tie the fly. On average 150 flies and boxes are put into the hands of youth each year. It has become one of the mot popular events at MarineQuest. We have enough volunteers to tie in shifts between 10:00am and 4:00pm. We start at 8:00am setting up our space and begin helping kids tie their own fly from 10:00am to 4:00pm. In 2018 we used 185 fly boxes. Some of the patterns have included the colorful ‘Electric Chicken’, Ada Potato, Smitty’s White Spiders, Multi-colored Woolly Buggers, and a Halloween Special in black and orange to catch “pumpkin” fish.
If interested talk to Tom Gadacz at one of our club meetings, or us our Contact Us page, entering “For Tom Gadacz MarineQuest” in the email subject line and you will be contacted.
The Florida Sportsman Expo
The Florida Sportsman Expo is usually held in October at the South Florida Fairgrounds in Tampa. Many activities and vendors were available with boat dealers, fishing shops, tackle vendors, marine equipment, conservation groups and even vacation adventures. Seminars were on Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Kayak, Angler on Foot, Hunting, and Fly Fishing. The SFF volunteers at the expo to set up a table and demonstrate the art of fly tying. We also introduce visitors to fly fishing and casting. We typically are provided a great spot within the Expo with a stage and casting pond.
If interested talk to Tom Gadacz at one of our club meetings, or us our Contact Us page, entering “For Tom Gadacz Florida Sportsman Expo” in the email subject line and you will be contacted.
Green Thumb Festival
Green Thumb Festival (Arbor Day Weekend) at Walter Fuller Park is an annual festival sponsored by St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department. There are some 33,000 people buying and selling all sorts of garden plants and materials on the corresponding Saturday and Sunday. There were over 264 booth spaces representing environmental and horticultural exhibits and vendors plus food and beverage vendors. Attendees had wagons full of tree and plant purchases.
In 2018 SFF was invited to give a program on fly-fishing. It has become a popular activity and a great attraction to some adults and many kids. We give a talk on fly-fishing and then demonstrate fly-casting and let visitors try their hand at fly-casting. Some adults participate but mostly the kids take a part in the actual casting (no inhibitions). They range from toddlers to teens. It has been a hoot mixing with all these gardeners.
If interested talk to Tom Gadacz at one of our club meetings, or us our Contact Us page, entering “For Tom Gadacz Green Thumb Festival” in the email subject line and you will be contacted.