ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation will establish a new after-school program for at least 2,000 students on St. Croix.

The department received a $5,000 grant from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation to establish a local "Take Me Fishing" program, which will teach local elementary and middle school age children how to fish among other things, Alvin Burke, the department's director of sports and recreation, said.

"All activities are designed to increase the enjoyment and knowledge of St. Croix aquatics," he said. "We have a lot of local children that, believe it or not, have not been to the beach. They cannot swim and they cannot fish. Believe it or not."

The program will focus on boating and water safety, angler ethics, knot-tying, casting techniques, catch and release and fish species identification, he said. The program will start with an educational curriculum in a classroom setting to lay the foundation for fishing techniques, seawater ecology and the ocean's food chain. It will also encompass many local and environmental issues regarding fishing, Burke said.

Registration begins Monday and ends on Nov. 27. The Department will have two sessions, one beginning on Nov. 30, the other to start in late February 2010 and running through mid-April. Each session can accommodate 1,000 participants, which is within the grant requirements of a minimum of 2,000 students between ages 6-15.

The department will transport program participants using its own buses from the their schools to one of three locations: Ann Abramson Pier in Frederiksted, Lagoon Beach in Christiansted and Ha Penny Beach in Estate Langford, also on St. Croix.

The program is expected to run Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 until 6 p.m. Parents will be expected to pick up their children, Burke said. The Foundation that issued the grant is part of the National Recreation and Parks Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advocacy of public parks and the issues they face like accessibility, playground safety, environmental stewardship and budget challenges, according to its website, www.nrpa.org.

The $5,000 grant will go toward paying instructors and purchasing the equipment needed for the course.

The department will use the grant to supplement local money to fully fund the program. If the program proves successful, there is a chance the grant will be re-issued, Burke said. He estimates the cost of the program will be upwards of $20,000.

"This is the very first year. It's going to be very costly because we have to engage 2,000 children minimum," he said. "The first time is always the most expensive."

The department is accepting donations of fishing supplies, rods and reels. It is also seeking volunteers who would like to assist in the program. Contact Burke in his office to make a donation, volunteer or register at 773-0160 or 773-0271.

- Contact reporter Ailene Torres at 774-8772 ext. 304 or e-mail atorres@dailynews.vi.