April 27, 2023
Last month, the Mud Hole Education Program joined forces with students from Lawrence Academy to put their in-school rod building program to the test. Led by Forrest Stillwell, the students’ U.S. History teacher, they learned to build fishing rods and traveled 1,200 miles to Florida to put their skills to the test against redfish and trout with the Mud Hole team.
Mud Hole Education Program Director, Anthony Youmans, expressed that witnessing the students catch fish with the rods they built firsthand highlighted the value of the program.
“Bringing the craft of custom rod building to high school students is what the Mud Hole Education Program is all about, but we rarely have the opportunity to see the final results,” said Youmans. “Experiencing the students catching fish on the rods that they built, firsthand, really brought home to us what a great experience rod building is and the value we bring to schools around the country.”
The program aligns with Lawrence Academy's two-week program goals of teaching students a hands-on craft, getting them outdoors, developing personal skills, and keeping them engaged in the classroom. Stillwell, who had purchased a rod kit from Mud Hole many years ago, reached out to Youmans to get involved in the program. He expressed that custom rod building was a perfect fit for their program and an easy and affordable option with the Mud Hole team's help. The Mud Hole Education Program aims to provide teachers, schools, and youth organizations worldwide with a simple way to teach valuable life skills through custom rod building.
Mud Hole Custom Tackle, based in Oviedo, Florida, is the world’s largest supplier of rod building and tackle crafting goods and instruction.
For more information, please visit: https://mudhole.com/pages/rod-building-for-education.
