Courses

Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant were selected to lead the Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy for 2026-2027, training up to 60 professionals with virtual and in-person sessions in Minnesota and Texas. The $350,000 program, administered by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, will feature hands-on experiences at aquaculture facilities in the Great Lakes and Gulf of America regions.

New Jersey is offering two fly fishing workshops on April 19: Fly Fishing 101 at Pequest Trout Hatchery for ages 12+ and Intro to Saltwater Fly Fishing at Island Beach State Park for ages 18+ in partnership with Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders. Applications deadline is April 9.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a free pond management workshop on April 14 at MDC's Ozark Regional Office in West Plains. Topics include pond site selection, construction, stocking, fisheries management, aquatic vegetation management, watershed management, and nuisance wildlife control.

CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, FL will host an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, April 11, 2026, led by Certified Instructor Capt. Rick Grassett. The class covers fly casting, saltwater techniques, and fly selection for $225 per person.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a free pond management workshop on April 9 in Chillicothe, covering topics including pond construction, stocking, fisheries management, and aquatic vegetation management. Participants may bring pond photos or samples for species identification and management advice.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is offering free public training to become certified aquatic invasive species inspectors. The one-day courses, coordinated by Josh Leonard, cover invasive species biology, impacts, and watercraft inspection techniques, with trainings scheduled statewide from March through July.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Hooked on Fishing program is offering a two-day Team Leader Training on March 28 and April 18, 2025, at Neptune High School in Neptune, NJ. The training prepares adults to lead youth fishing teams through schools, community, and faith-based organizations. Registration deadline is March 16, 2026.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a four-part virtual Pond to Plate series in March covering fish cleaning equipment, techniques for scaled fish like crappie and bass, skinning methods for catfish and paddlefish, and a final demonstration combining all topics.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and Sportsman's Alliance of Maine offer beginner fly tying courses in Gray and Augusta. Participants learn different fly styles, required equipment, and create flies to take home, with sessions scheduled throughout March and April.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to a free pond management workshop at Cape Girardeau Nature Center on March 11 from 5:30-8 p.m. MDC instructors will cover pond construction, fish stocking, fisheries management, aquatic plant management, and wildlife use. Contact MDC Fisheries Biologist Levi Frazier for questions.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a free Pond Management workshop on March 26 in Warrenton for landowners interested in building or maintaining private ponds. Participants will learn best practices from MDC fisheries experts covering site selection, construction, fish stocking, habitat management, and maintenance.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to a free pond management workshop at Cape Girardeau Nature Center on March 11 from 5:30-8 p.m. MDC instructors will cover pond construction, fish stocking, fisheries management, aquatic plant management, and wildlife use. Contact MDC Fisheries Biologist Levi Frazier for questions.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water launched a free interactive boating safety course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The course meets state requirements, can be taken at the student's own pace, and is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as exceeding minimum National Recreational Boating Safety Program standards.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is hosting WETshop 2026, a five-day coastal awareness workshop for educators June 8-12, 2026, at the LDWF Grand Isle Fisheries Research Lab. The workshop provides over 50 hours of instruction on wetland ecology, fisheries management, and coastal restoration, with applications due April 1, 2026.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program is hosting an ice fishing workshop in Havre on February 13-14. The two-part workshop for women 18 and older includes an indoor session on ice fishing essentials and a hands-on outdoor session. Registration costs $15 and opens January 31.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a free beginner fly-tying program on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. at the MDC Regional Office in Columbia for participants ages 18 and older. All materials will be provided, and Conservation Educator Brian Flowers is available for questions.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and Alzheimer's Association will host a free fly tying workshop on January 22 at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. The program demonstrates how fly tying's motor skills provide cognitive exercise to support brain health and combat Alzheimer's Disease symptoms.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) urges boaters to complete the Ohio Boating Education Course (OBEC) during winter months to prepare for the upcoming boating season. The free, one-day course covers boating laws, navigation rules, and safety procedures, fulfilling state requirements for operators born after January 1, 1982.

A virtual program on January 16 from 12-1 p.m. teaches participants fishing equipment maintenance skills including respooling reels, cleaning, lubricating, and proper storage. All ages are invited to register through the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department will be conducting several Introduction to Ice Fishing Clinics open to the public this winter.