Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport

BOWLING GREEN, Ky – WKU's Fly Fishing Montana course/program was recently recognized in the national magazine, American Fly Fishing. Jody Martin's story, Fly fishing 101: College Classes on Fly Fishing, discusses a sampling of college fly-fishing programs from around the U.S. including Western Kentucky University. Besides including WKU in a partial listing of schools offering fly-fishing courses, WKU's Fly Fishing Montana program is highlighted for it's ambitious travel-based learning opportunity in Montana.

REC 480: Travel-based Learning in Recreation and Tourism provides an "Experiential exploration of recreation and tourism topics taught in a travel-based learning environment. The fly-fishing version of REC 480, better known as WKU Fly Fishing Montana, gives students an opportunity to learn and experience fly fishing in the WKU classroom, local Kentucky waterways, and in Montana. There is an associated program for community members seeking a fly-fishing adventure with WKU faculty and students. The program provides the travel-based learning experience without the logistics.

"It is super exciting for WKU to receive this national attention. The coverage in this article, albeit brief, has the potential to reach prospective students all around the country," stated Dr. Raymond Poff, a faculty member in the WKU Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration degree program (School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport - College of Health and Human Services).

This innovative program, with its beginnings in 2012, was designed to serve university students and the community to "provide opportunities for people of the region to be educated, entertained, assisted, and inspired outside the classroom." (WKU Strategic Plan 2018-2028)

The travel portion of the course includes traveling to Missoula, Montana and spending four days on world renowned waters containing 5 species of trout: rainbow, brown, cutthroat, hybrid cutbow, and brook.

Thanks to the generosity of a WKU donor, and their employer's charitable gift matching program, several scholarships to help offset the expenses will be awarded to students participating in the fall 2022 program.

Students interested in the Fall semester 2022 course, or community members interested in the travel program should contact Dr. Poff after visiting the program website https://www.wku.edu/flyfishing/fly_fishing_montana.php.

For more information, please contact Dr. Raymond Poff at (270) 745-2498 or raymond.poff@wku.edu

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About WKU Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration Program: Established in 1967, this academic degree program provides access to a world of fulfilling careers helping individuals, families, and communities through recreation and leisure.

The degree program includes three concentrations: Essentionals of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism (30-36 hours); Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism (48 hours); and Nonprofit Administration (48 hours). Also offered are minors in Outdoor Experience Leadership, Tourism and Events, Nonprofit Administration, and Facility & Event Management. The program is housed in the School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport in the College of Health and Human Services.

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