The Stream Explorers website runs smooth and has a lot of great information, games, and membership application for your Fishy Kid.

Full membership ($24 a year) gets you a copy of Tyler Befus’s book A Kid’s Guide to Fly Fishing along with the Stream Explorers Magazine, calendar, membership card, sticker, and access to the games and activities on the Stream Explorers website.

Kevin and I apologize for starting the year off a little slow but sometimes our real (work and family)  lives gets in the way of our online Fishy Kid lives.  Thank you for your patience and keep spread the word about Fishy Kid.  We’re Back!

NUCANOE WRITING CONTEST:
Fishy Kid is excited to announce the first contest of the year with a writing contest which is sponsored by NuCanoe and a growing list of other sponsors.

When Fishy Kid was in the planning stages we were contacted by Montana Guides and Outfitters, Ron Snow and Joel Thompson, who said they were working with NuCanoe to donate a 10 foot model NuCanoe to Fishy Kid to be used as a prize. We were astounded at the commitment of this donation and are very excited to be starting 2010 with this contest.

Now for the rules and we hope to see a lot of participation in this contest over the next several months.

The topic for the writing contest is:

Why are the outdoors and spending time on the water
so important to you?

SPONSORS – NuCanoe, ECHO, Redington, Scientific Anglers, Montana Fly Company, Idlywilde Flies, Korkers, Tenkara USA, Osprey Packs, Simms, and others!

CONTESTANT – Children ages 17 and younger accompanied by the Fishy Kid Writing Contest online form which signifies the permission of their parent or legal guardian’s acceptance of all terms and conditions of the rules stated.

ENTRY – The Fishy Kid Writing Contest online form will be the only way in which essay submissions will be accepted. Essays will be accepted online from March 3rd through May 31st, 2010.

ELIGIBILITY/RULES – All participants must be registered members of the Fishy Kid website. Contestants must be age 17 or younger at the time their essay is submitted. Due to shipping concerns and restrictions all contestants must live within the United States. Only one essay per Fishy Kid will be accepted. Essays should be approximately 1000 words or less. All essays submitted must be the original written work of the Fishy Kid applicant. Violations of these rules are grounds for removal for consideration in this contest.

PRIZES –
Grand Prize – 10’ NuCanoe
Prizes will be awarded to all twelve finalists of the Fishy Kid Writing Contest and will include items such as fly rod and reel outfits, waders, wading boots, back packs, fly boxes, flies, and other prizes.

PROCEDURES – Fishy Kid will begin accepting essay submissions on March 10th, 2010 and continue through until April 15th, 2010.

A panel of judges, which will include Cameron Mortenson, Kevin Powell, and representatives from our Gear Sponsors will pick twelve finalists. These twelve essay finalists will then have their essay posted on the Fishy Kid website where there will be a voting period of one month to determine the Grand Prize Winner.

In the name of fairness the names of the Fishy Kid writers will not be included with the posted essays during the voting period. At the end of the voting period the Grand Prize winner will be announced, all Fishy Kid writers recognized for their work, and all essay finalists will receive prizes for their participation.

Log in through the main page of the site and click on the Submit Writing Contest link in the top menu bar.

or click here

If anyone has questions, concerns, or issues with uploading their submission through the online form please send us an email at gofish@fishykid.org.

Last night Hadley and I pulled names from a hat to determine the winners of the fly rods, fly rod outfits, and reel that were donated by ECHO, Redington, Ross Reels/Ross Worldwide, Scientific Anglers, Temple Fork Outfitters, and Waterworks Lamson.

The winners were picked by thier coloring page gallery age groups.

AGES 1-5 WINNERS:
ECHO Gecko Rod – Jack Kruitbosch
ECHO Gecko Rod – Jay Mortenson
Ross Reels/Ross Worldwide Outfit – Eleanor Coleman
Ross Reels/Ross Worldwide Outfit – Aran Pritchard
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Chloe Pratt
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Elias Sisler

AGES 6-11 WINNERS:
Redington Outfit – Brooke McAbee
Redington Outfit – Hazel Paul
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Corinne Fellerhoff
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Halle Rheams
Temple Fork Outfitters Rod – Sasha Plichta
Temple Fork Outfitters Rod – Justin Bott
Temple Fork Outfitters Rod – Mead Krowka

AGES 12-17 WINNERS:
Temple Fork Outfitters Rod – Justin Kahng
Redington Outfit – Keith Hove
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Courtney Sisler
Scientific Anglers Outfit – Aaron Kahng
Waterworks Lamson Konic Reel – Levi Ebersole

All other coloring book participants will be recieving prizes from a large stack of gear that has been donated and I’ll be getting those prizes into the mail this week as well.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at gofish@fishykid.org.

What is it? The Gear Revival stocks camping and backpacking equipment, including packs and clothing for all of your outdoor pursuits. They sell bikes, canoes and kayaks, both new and used. The Revival stocks an above average amount of stoves, filters and camping accoutrements, including stuff sacs and water bottles. They also sell hammocks and sleeping bags from some of the finest manufacturers out there. The Gear Revival is a complete outfitter for camping and backpacking.

Where is it? 955 Marietta Street Atlanta, GA 30318 404-892-4326 www.thegearrevival.com Located on Atlanta’s growing West-Side, near the GA TECH campus. They are not in a strip mall, but in a free standing building with plenty of parking, a bike rack outside for locking bikes. There is a large showroom,  customer bathrooms and the coolest fitting room this side of Nordstrom’s.  They are right across the street from a true coffee drinkers’ coffeehouse and an organic brewery to boot!

Ask for Mitch and tell them Fishy Kid sent you.