Bernetti, of Ft. Pierce, Fla., was helping at a one-day fishing clinic when he realized more is needed to aid teens who have an interest in angling. "After the clinic ended, a mom came up to me and asked, 'Okay, where do we go now?' and I didn't have an answer," Bernetti said. "With these clinics, they're there one day, but there's no place for the kids to continue with angling. So I sat down and started a plan." The fruit of his labor, the National Teen Angler program, is designed to satisfy the hunger for fishing that is created in some teens but is often squelched because of a lack of structure, equipment and guidance. The program, open to kids 12 to 20 years old who are "seriously interested in the outdoors," is set up at middle schools and high schools.

There's a lot more to being in the NTA than just catching fish. Usually, the participants meet after school and study topics including boating safety, rod and reel maintenance, journalism, photography and marine mechanics. "We teach all of those things we've learned over the years," Bernetti said. "We don't want them to have to go through years and years of learning on their own." He said the goal is to attract kids who have an "underlying interest" in angling but few opportunities to go fishing.

"We're looking to find those teens who don't fit in the mold of basketball, football or baseball," Bernetti said. "We hope eventually to get to the point to offer scholarships in journalism, outdoors photography and law enforcement to help us deal with the serious issue of taking care of the environment." The main thrust of the free program is building relationships between the teens and the volunteers who work with the NTA. "If they don't have a rod or reel, we make sure they get one," Bernetti said. "If they don't have a boat, we'll ask our volunteers to help. It's serious mentoring. We go six months out of every year and the teens get a certificate each year. "They could be the teen angler for their state or county. They represent their schools at tournaments and championships sponsored by the national organization."

He has discussed the program with officials at the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. The division is always looking for ways to attract young people to hunting and fishing. In a recent interview, Fish and Wildlife Director Marty McHugh said the NTA sounds like a great idea. Bernetti will come to New Jersey to meet with interested school boards and volunteers as soon as he gets "some folks to commit." Those who are interested can learn more at www.teenanglers.org or by sending an e-mail to him at alb@teenanglers.org.