According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the Division of Wildlife will host a Passport to Fishing instructors’ workshop on Wednesday, March 21. The program will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Wildlife District One Headquarter located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus Ohio 43215.

The workshop is a free one-day instructor training program that qualifies individuals to become Division of Wildlife certified fishing instructors, similar to a hunter education instructor. Pre- registration is required as seating is limited, participants will also be required to take part in a background check. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch and to dress for the weather, some of the clinic will take place outside.

By becoming a certified instructor, you will be able to help reconnect students with the outdoors. Resources available include grants, equipment, brochures, and training.

Passport to Fishing was developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and adopted by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. Workshops teach volunteers the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program with a fishing event. These instructors then go back to their communities with a written curriculum and training aids, to teach beginning anglers the basics of fishing.

To register for the workshop, please e-mail Derek Klein at [email protected] or call 614-644-3925. For additional class information and other educational opportunities, visit wildohio.gov. Click on the Education and Outdoor Discovery tab on the left side of the web page.

Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.