Education & Junior Angler Mission Statement:

"The Education & Junior Angler Department is committed to the conservation of game fish and their habitat through youth educational programs that focus on responsible, ethical angling practices and environmental stewardship."

Who is the Camp Director?

Melissa Champagne is currently earning her Masters in Marine Biology at Nova Southeastern University.

What are the qualifications of the counselors? What are their certifications? Have they had background checks and been fingerprinted? Are they local residents or from another state?

Staff is certified in CPR and First Aid. Most of the IGFA Educational Staff have or are attaining a Bachelors or Masters degree in an environmental science/marine biology field. Background checks and fingerprinting have been assessed for all counselors, instructors and staff.

What is the ratio of students to chaperones?

IGFA practices the same standards as the Broward County School District of 1 chaperone to 10 children ( 1:10 ); often we have a higher ratio of chaperones to children (1:7). We also have volunteers to aid the instructors each week.

Is the camp program onsite or offsite? If offsite, where?

Both: Mondays and Tuesdays campers spend time at the museum participating in various activities; Wednesdays and Thursdays campers are out on field trips, and every Friday campers get to experience drift-boat or anchor fishing in the Atlantic Ocean out of Biscayne Bay.

What is the cost of camp? Are there any discounts?

Spring Camp: Campers have the choice to come on a daily basis at the cost of: Monday & Tuesday $55 each day; Wednesday & Thursday $70 each day; and Friday is $75; or at a discounted weekly rate of: $275 for those with a regular or family membership and $300 for non-members.

Summer Camp: If you have a regular or a family membership, the cost of camp is $300 per week. For non-members, the cost of camp is $325 per week. The more weeks your child attends, the more you save!

For both spring and summer camp, an early registration discount of $25 is available for those who register by March 14th for spring camp and May 17th, 2008 for summer camp. Please ask about our multiple week and child discounts.

Is there a deposit required?

A deposit is not required. However, you must pay for your camp at the time of registration. Your child's space will not be reserved unless payment has been received. After care can be paid on a daily basis.

What are the camp hours?

Camp hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. On Friday, campers are required to arrive by 7:35 a.m. and parents are encouraged to attend the graduation from 3:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. Before care is offered 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. free of charge.  After care is offered from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m at a rate of $10 per hour.

Is this camp program co-ed?

Yes, girls and boys ages 8-13 (or going into grades 3-8). During summer camp, campers are divided into two groups. Children ages 8-10 are in one group; children ages 11-13 are in another group. Like spring camp, children may be combined due to low attendance.

What activities will the campers participate in and what will they learn? Are campers required to have prior knowledge and/or experience with fishing?

What is the difference between the Angling weeks and the Marine weeks?

Campers travel to county parks where they explore and fish in different Florida habitats. Activities at IGFA include laboratory exercises that teach aquatic biology, as well as ethical angling practices.  Participants learn about fish biology, knot tying, tackle, making lures, tying flies and jigs, and fishing.  Field trips include lakes, wetlands, estuaries, Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. The main difference between Angling 1, Angling 2, Angling 3 and Angling 4 are the field trip sites.  Campers do not need to attend Angling 1 before attending the other Angling weeks. You choose the weeks your child will attend camp in any order you prefer.  The campers in the marine program explore the ocean environment, learn about marine animals and thier habitats and explore the coastal dunes.  Field trips include SeaQuarium, swimming, snorkeling and fishing on a drift boat, the Reward Fleet, on Fridays. Marine weeks focus more on the Marine environment and the activities for those weeks include dissections and snorkeling. However, campers will only go fishing on Friday during the Marine weeks. In either type of camp, campers will be on-site at IGFA on Mondays and Tuesdays and then venture out on field trips on Wednesdays - Fridays.

Is transportation provided to and from camp?

No, each child must be dropped off and picked up by their parent/guardian from IGFA.

What is the procedure for drop off and pick up?

Each morning, a parent or guardian must bring the child inside and sign the log sheet at the front desk with the time of arrival and the parent's/guardian's initials. A child cannot be dropped off without a parent or guardian signing the log sheet. Each afternoon, a parent or guardian must sign the log sheet to pick up their child. Only adults indicated on the Hold Harmless Agreement Form will be allowed to sign a camper out.

What type of vehicle is used when traveling on field trips? Does it have seat belts? Is it air-conditioned? How many passengers does it hold? Who drives the vehicle?

Either a 15 passenger van or an air-conditioned coach bus is used for travel to and from field trips, depending on the number of campers.  Coach buses hold anywhere between 45-56 passengers.  A bus-licensed driver is in charge of the bus.

Is lunch provided or do the campers need to bring lunch daily?

No, campers need to bring a bag lunch daily. Please provide food that will not require refrigeration. We suggest an extra drink and snack for mid-afternoon. Campers may bring a small, personal cooler if they prefer.

What do the campers need to wear daily? Campers should wear comfortable casual clothing. Shorts, t-shirts and sneakers are recommended. On days when campers swim, sandals are recommended. Sunscreen and a light jacket are also suggested. Campers must wear an IGFA T-shirt daily . One t-shirt will be provided for the camper when the parent/guardian signs the camper in. Extra T-shirts will be available in the mornings and afternoons for $8 each.

What do campers need to bring?

Parents/guardians will be given a sheet for each week of camp informing them of what campers will need to bring each day of the week. The items needed may include a towel, bathing suit, change of clothes, snorkel gear, hat, and sunscreen. Campers may bring a small backpack with their belongings. Please be sure to label all belongings with complete camper's name. On Fridays campers may need motion sickness pills: Bonine, Dramamine or any comparable meclizine brand.

Do the campers need to bring their own fishing equipment?

No, campers are not permitted to bring in any of their own fishing equipment. IGFA will provide what they need.

What should campers not bring?

Campers are not permitted to bring radios, cell phones, money, video games, or anything else that would be disruptive to the camp. IGFA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Are parents allowed to visit staff and the museum when considering our camp program? Are appointments required?

Yes, we encourage parents to visit our facility. Appointments are not required unless you need to speak with a staff member. An advanced notice of your visit will help us better prepare for your arrival and self-guided tour.

Are parents allowed to participate in our camp programs? Can they join the campers on field trips? Is there an additional charge for this?

Yes, parents are allowed to participate in our camp activities! Parents who want to attend field trips will be charged a field trip rate (rate is subject to field trip site).

What is the healthcare insurance policy? Is there a nurse on-site?

All parents are required to complete a Hold Harmless Agreement Form, which includes the health care information and emergency contact information. All instructors are CPR and 1 st Aid certified. If an injury occurs an “Ouch Report” is filled out for the incident and signed by the camper and the instructor. If the incident is major and requires hospital care, a parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.

What if I don't have health insurance?

If health care is needed, the parent's health care insurance policy would be primary and IGFA's health insurance policy would be secondary. If a child were not covered by insurance, IGFA's health insurance would then be primary.

What is our safety and regulations policy? What precautions do we practice to ensure safety? What is the protocol for safety when participating in water activities?

Camp counselors carry a binder which contains all camper emergency information and contact phone numbers. There is at least 1 chaperone for every 10 children, all instructors are CPR and 1 st Aid certified (some are lifeguard certified and some are escue SCUBA Diver certified), all boats on field trips have personal floatation devices (PFDs) available, and when swimming at beaches, lifeguards are present.

What is the protocol if a child is missing?

A count of the children is taken before the bus leaves to and from each field trip site.  Counts are also taken when traveling from one location to another.  If, after all of these precautions have been taken a child is missing, the proper authorities, the parent and IGFA headquaters will be contacted immediately.

What if a child becomes ill?

If your child is ill and cannot attend, please call and notify the staff so that we do not hold the bus or be waiting for your child. If the child should become sick while at IGFA and participating in activities, a staff member would make the child as comfortable as possible and contact a parent/ guardian for an early pickup.

What is the returning rate of counselors?

Because many of the staff members are environmental science related majors, some instructors return while others find jobs in their field. The returning rate of counselors this year is 100%. Three staff members have been at IGFA for more than three years.

What is the returning rate of campers?

2004 was the first year IGFA kept track of the returning rate of campers. The returning rate of campers in the summer of 2004 was 38%.

What is the percentage of boys and girls?

In summer 2004, 84% of campers were male and 16% were female.

For more information on Spring Camp 2008, click here!

For more information on Summer Camp 2008, click here!

Click to register on-line.

For more information or to register please call (954) 924-4309, fax (954) 924-4333,
e-mail or mail to:

IGFA

Attn: Education Department

300 Gulf Stream Way

Dania Beach, FL 33004

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