The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) Take Me Fishing campaign is encouraging families, kids and outdoor adventurers alike to spend more time in the great outdoors and on the water this summer. According to the Outdoor Foundation, the average child spends 35 hours a week in front of the television, and less than 25 percent of school-aged children participate in some form of daily physical activity. RBFF research has shown that fishing is a top “gateway” activity, spurring involvement in other outdoor interests, which may lead to an active, healthy lifestyle.

During National Fishing and Boating Week, nearly 40 out of the 50 states offer free fishing days as a way for people to try out fishing without a license. With hundreds of thousands of places to boat and fish across the country, families likely have a waterway close to home and plenty of opportunities to get involved in the sport. For a full listing of the state’s free fishing days, or to find a nearby body of water, visit www.TakeMeFishing.org.

WHO: The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing Campaign

WHAT: National Fishing and Boating Week 2012

WHEN: Saturday, June 2 – Sunday, June 10, 2012