Youth Participation Initiative

The Youth Participation Initiative (YPI) Program was established in 2009 to provide funding for the purpose of educating children in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and safety. The MDWFP encourages applicants to focus on the education, recruitment, or retention of youth in the areas listed above or in any safety issues arising from the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation. Preference is given to those projects demonstrating focus on new ideas, new programs, or programs directed at involving youth that have little or no prior experience in the fields of hunting, fishing, or conservation.

To date, $2,698,848 has been awarded to help fund 415 projects. The MDWFP is an active partner in many of these projects such as Youth Waterfowl Hunting & Education Initiative Camp, Camp Fish, Deer Hunt for Youth with Disabilities, Youth Trappers College, Wildlife Conservation Camp, Fishing Rodeos, and the YPI Squirrel Hunt.