Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Comes To Linden

“Hooked On Fishing – Not On Drugs” is a unique, nationally recognized program created by the Future Fisherman Foundation. In 2012, Governor Christie signed legislation establishing the statewide implementation of the HOFNOD program. The legislation provided initial funding through an appropriation of $200,000 from the state’s Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund.
The goal of New Jersey’s program is to encourage school-aged children to avoid tobacco, drug and alcohol usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills. The program will provide students with access to extracurricular outlets that utilize New Jersey’s incredible outdoor recreational assets.
Councilwoman Cosby-Hurling is the visionary who sought the program through the NJ DFW and successfully completed a weekend training course so that Linden could host a program for the youth. Linden’s Wilson Park Pond is stocked with fish by the NJ Division of fish and Wildlife each spring, this is the official home of Team Linden, HOF NOD.
Cosby- Hurling praised the program stating, “The HOF NOD program was appealing to me because the state provides educational materials, some equipment and lots of hands-on opportunities for the HOF NOD teams. Linden has a pond in the center of town that is underutilized! “We have children who have an interest in fishing and this is an opportunity to get them outdoors and away from technology at least for a little while.”
The program will run until the beginning of August. Children age 10 – 17 can learn fishing skills, conservation and recycling and an anti drug and alcohol lesson is incorporated into each team meeting. There are limited spaces still available for the 2016 season. Anyone interested in joining the team should call 908-718-7933 for more information.