BUZZBAIT SCHOOL’S IN SESSION.
WHERE DO I SIGN UP? PHOTO: COURTESY WINDHAM HIGH SCHOOL
[BOATS]
A FLEETFUL OF DOLLARS I
magine receiving a $30,000 windfall to spend on a fleet of fishing kayaks. How
would you use the money? In 2011, teachers Jeff Riddle and Wayne
Martin of Maine’s Windham High School faced a problem any fish-crazed kayaker would envy. Using grant money from the i225 Carol M. White Physical Education Program, they bought fishing kayaks in bulk. Choosing the right kayak wasn’t easy. They
weren’t shopping for themselves; they were outfitting the school’s Adventure Physical Education program, the Windham Outing Club and the 1,100 teenagers that make up the school’s diverse student body. “It was a hard choice. There’s nothing like
getting the right boat,” says Riddle, a sea kayaking guide familiar with all the major brands. “The program goals were the top pri- ority,” he adds. “We started with the annual boat buyer’s guide in Kayak Angler,” Martin notes. Then the two colleagues met countless times to debate the pros and cons of different mod- els, eventually narrowing the decision to the Wilderness Systems Ride or Tarpon and the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler. Hands-free won out. Riddle and Martin
invested in a matching set of eight Hobie Mi- rage Pro Anglers purchased from local dealer
20 …KAYAK ANGLER SUMMER/FALL 2012
Ski Rack Sports. “In the end, this program is about fishing,” Riddle says. “For students, the ability to confidently stand while learning to cast a fly is priceless.” Martin
and Riddle knew their choice
would come with complications. Hobie’s Pro Angler is heavy. These boats also have ex- pensive moving parts. Prior to each launch, the two teachers carefully brief the students on technical points. “Make sure the fins are up, make sure you’re loading correctly,” Rid- dle recites with patient familiarity, but then
TWO TEACHERS AND ONE AMAZING $30,000 KAYAK FISHING INVESTMENT BY PAUL LEBOWITZ
break. But when you’re building a fleet, you have to think about sustainability and mainte- nance. Sticking with one manufacturer made the most sense. When the time came to add kayaks, Martin and Riddle stayed with Hobie, but stretched their money by choosing the less expensive Outback model. Martin advises fellow teachers, “Apply for
grants. Then apply for more. There are plenty of opportunities for educators to implement programming that reaches today’s student.” It’s well worth the effort. When Windham
AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS, THEY’RE MORE APT TO SAY, “I WON’T PLAY VIDEO GAMES. I’LL GO FISHING,” —WAYNE MARTIN
seems to smile. “Once you get the boats in the water, it’s effortless. I know my students are safe,” he says. The kids are responsible for organizing the
outings. They also rig all of their own gear and are even graded on knot tying. Water safety is a big part of the curriculum. The students learn what to do if they fall out or someone is injured. Riddle admits he’s still torn about his
choice. “Other fishing kayaks are awesome; they’re really light,” he says. Traditional fish- ing kayaks are also tougher for teenagers to
students come to Adventure PE, they’re intro- duced to geocaching, archery, rock climbing and other non-traditional sports. “There’s a gap between kids and the outdoors,” Martin says, “After participating in these programs, they’re more apt to say, ‘I won’t play video games. I’ll go fishing.’” To learn more about i225, a program de-
signed to increase student physical activity, visit
www.i225.org.
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