ESPN

EUFAULA, Ala. — The BASS youth movement has taken to the road with an innovative outreach initiative that is spreading the news about conservation, environmental awareness, boating safety and fishing skills through an academic spin. Consequently, school officials are giving the program an A+, where it's leaving a positive mark along the tournament trail.

Called the Bassmaster Tour Festival & Community Outreach, the program is being rolled out in cities and towns hosting CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer and Bassmaster Elite 50 events.

The program has been a slam dunk since it began with the Tour kickoff earlier this season, according to BASS National Youth Manager Stacy Twiggs.

"They all want to know when we can come back again," he notes. "That tells us we're making an impact."

He continues, "What we really want to do is show how BASS and fishing can build character in youths while teaching them about important issues they'll face as they grow up. This includes the importance of environmental stewardship and embracing the conservation cause supported by BASS."

Twiggs is a busy man when he's on the tour. At the stop in Eufaula, clinics were held at four schools, with the program shared with grades K-8.

He rolls into the schoolyard towing an official Skeeter or Triton Tour edition rig loaded with all the bells and whistles. Not surprisingly, the eye candy creates quit a stir when the rig is parked outside the school building.

Accessories on the boat are demonstrated while keeping the focus on education. For example, Twiggs explains the GPS receiver is a safety tool, while the aerated livewell has a conservation application. Boating safety is stressed along with how the fishermen must abide by strict rules.

If time permits, Twiggs also brings an interactive trailer with 12 audio/ video "Dream Cast" fishing simulators with built-in rods and reels to create a hands-on learning experience.

At the conclusion of each session, Twiggs extends an invitation for the faculty, students and their parents to visit the tournament weigh-in, the BASS Sponsor Expo and perhaps even enter the Bassmaster CastingKids competition.

But fundamentally, Twiggs says it all comes back to the educational element of the program.

"Bringing the outdoors to the youths through a fun, educational experience while dynamically tying it together with conservation, habitat restoration and the environment makes for a great learning experience," he says.

Twiggs says he plans to continue the program after school adjourns for summer break and during the E50 season by working with local parks and recreation departments and youth clubs.

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