Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute
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August 22, 2009 02:00 PM
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flyguy66
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Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute
El Paso, Texas
The Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute (AFFI) is excited to announce a new, comprehensive Adaptive Fly Fishing Instructor Certification Program (AFFICP). The purpose of the AFFICP is to educate and ensure the quality of training of adaptive fly fishing guides and instructors worldwide through the establishment and teaching of a standardized apprenticeship-based curriculum and the administration of an objective examination process. Candidates who achieve certification through the AFFICP will be entitled to display the title “Adaptive Fly Fishing Instructor” TM or “AFFI” TM following a comma after their names in all promotional literature, advertisements, and so forth so as to inform the public that they have been certified by the Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute as fully accredited to teach and guide fly fishing for special needs students and clients.
The Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute exists for the professional development of adaptive fly fishing to better serve the needs of the disabled community. The AFFI Advisory Board consists of Colonel Rick Morrow (USAR), a service-disabled combat veteran Army Medical Command-qualified Chaplain who did substantial work to help establish the Army’s new Warrior Transition Program for wounded soldiers; Mrs. Kerri Russell, a physical therapist with a doctorate in education who is also a state coordinator for Casting for Recovery; Mr. Gregory Burchstead, MS, an expert in the field of PTSD and retired Veterans Health Administration official who volunteers much of his time with Rivers of Recovery; Mr. Dustin Berg, mobility-impaired founder of Global Opportunities Unlimited; Mr. Bob Schtewein, MCI, who is one of New Mexico’s most prominent fly fishing guides and is a Master Certified Casting Instructor with the Federation of Fly Fishers; Ms. Char Bloom, Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide, graduate of the Joan Wulff School for fly casting instructors, and certified ski instructor; and Mr. Ken Morrow, Wapiti Adventures Pro Guide, publisher of UPSTREAM, fly fishing columnist for Newsvine.com (MSNBC), and founding Southern Region Coordinator of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. who is also a disabled veteran.
The AFFICP training program consists of a lengthy apprenticeship for the candidate to a certified instructor or member of the advisory board followed by a standardized written examination. The exam covers subjects ranging from the Americans with Disabilities Act and fundamentals of adaptive sports theory to fly casting, fly tying, and basic water safety. First aid and CPR certifications must also be kept current. Upon passing the written exam, the candidate will be observed teaching an actual course or guiding an actual trip for special needs students or clients. And if the evaluator(s) believe they sufficiently meet the standards set by AFFI for certification, they will be certified as Adaptive Fly Fishing Instructors and may begin using the official designator “AFFI” following their name to denote certification. AFFI founder, Ken Morrow explains, “This isn’t a certification you can get by attending a one day workshop and then taking a test. Our goal isn’t to make money, become popular, or impress our friends. Our goal is to train effective teachers, coaches, and mentors to use adaptive fly fishing to enhance the rehabilitation and lifestyles of disabled people. Half the folks on our board are disabled, and fly fishing has profoundly improved all of our lives. We are passionate about the healing we’ve seen and experienced through fly fishing and, when properly applied, we know what it can do for others.”
For more information about the Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute, visit http://www.adaptiveflyfishing.com/
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