SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –-(Ammoland.com)- Today, Wonders of Wildlife, organizers of National Hunting and Fishing Day, announced the 2016 National Hunting and Fishing Day Live It! grants, contributing funds to organizations promoting outdoor recreation in local communities across the United States.
Two years ago, National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) and the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative partnered to promote a grant program called the NHF Day Live It! grants. The number of applicants increased again this year; Yamaha and NHF Day were able to award 17 deserving groups and organizations with Live It! grants.
“Each of these clubs and organization mirror the values of National Hunting and Fishing Day, and we expect some terrific events will be hosted with the support of the Yamaha and NHF Day Live It! grants,” said Misty Mitchell, director of Conservation Programs Wonders of Wildlife. “There was a very diverse group this year and each is hosting an event focused on getting the next generation outdoors and bettering our public waterways and access areas.”
NHF Day and Yamaha strive to promote growth in land access and conservation efforts through a wide range of projects. The deserving organizations of the Live It! grants are able to help further each of their program’s goal of connecting everyone to the outdoors.
NHF Day encouraged clubs, associations and agencies to submit detailed applications for their specific needs.A selection committee reviewed each application and awarded grants to help fund deserving events. All events are National Hunting and Fishing Day focused and are scheduled to be hosted in September 2016.
For more information on NHF Day events in your area check out http://www.nhfday.org/Page/Events.aspx.
2016 Live It! Grant Recipients:
- Bayou Longbeards Chapter NWTF – Mansura, Louisiana
- Ohio Valley Conservation Coalition – Jackson, Ohio
- Friends of Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery – Mammoth Spring, Arkansas
- Davenport Parks and Recreation – Davenport, Iowa
- Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife – Wenatchee, Washington
- Union Soil and Water Conservation District – Ohio
- Cheboygan Chapter NWTF – Indian River, Michigan
- Women in the Outdoors Iowa Chapter – Iowa
- Friends of the Iron River National Fish Hatchery – Wisconsin
- Lake Washington Chapter NWTF – Enumclaw, Washington
- Kids Outdoor Zone, Inc. – Round Rock, Texas
- Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Club – Elbridge, New York
- Spring River Toms Chapter NWTF – Reeds, Missouri
- Women in the Outdoors Ohio Chapter – Carrollton, Ohio
- Weslaco Sportsmen Club – Hambden, Ohio
- Iowa Chapter NWTF – Iowa
- Herminie #2 Game Association – Herminie, Pennsylvania
“Whether you camp, hunt, fish, hike or ride, you need access to land,” said Steve Nessel, Yamaha’s ATV and SxS group marketing manager. “Yamaha continues to champion efforts to create and improve opportunities for outdoor recreation on public lands and values the partnership with National Hunting and Fishing Day to celebrate all the outdoors has to offer local communities.”
About National Hunting and Fishing Day
On May 2, 1972, President Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day, writing, “I urge all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in insuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations.”
By late summer, all 50 governors and over 600 mayors had joined in by proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day. That first year, national, regional, state and local organizations staged some 3,000 “open house” hunting- and fishing-related events everywhere from shooting ranges to suburban frog ponds, providing an estimated four million Americans with a chance to experience, understand and appreciate traditional outdoor sports.
National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September, remains the most effective grassroots efforts ever undertaken to promote the outdoor sports and conservation.
For questions regarding the NHFDay Live It Initiative, groups can call Wonders of Wildlife 417-225-1118, e-mail nhfday@wondersofwildlife.org or write to: Wonders of Wildlife 500 W Sunshine Springfield Mo 65807.
For more information about NHF Day, visit http://www.nhfday.org.