Capital Funding Campaign

We would like to present to you a wonderful opportunity to engage, teach and impact a substantial number of children and their parents about the benefits of learning about nature as a vital element of their personal development.  The pathway is through learning about and how to fish, hunt, shoot archery, kayak, canoe, row, sail and operate power boats safely.  The pathway continues with access to venues, equipment and expertise to develop these recreational pursuits that will last a lifetime.

We have use today of a very special place in nature located in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area just off I-10 at Garth Rd in East Harris County (Baytown area). The property is comprised of 31 acres including a 19 acre spring fed "well stocked Bass, Crappie & Bluegill" freshwater lake (the lake has a 60 ft depth for approximately 25 %  and it has very clean and clear water).  It is one mile around the lake and there are 5 acres surrounding  the lake that are presently maintained as a park like setting and well laid out for easy access plus 7 acres of buffer flooded timber and wetlands.  The property is adjacent to two other accessible 4 acre fishing ponds bounded by an electric company right of way.   We have used this property for 5 years for teaching the Angler Education program to some 10,000 plus Harris County youth.A number of photos of the property are on the website at http://www.jraha.com/Photos.php  and on the Facebook http://www.facebook.com/JuniorAnglersandHunters

It has been offered to Jr Anglers & Hunters of America (JrAHA) for purchase by another 501 (c) (3) that has owned it for some 25 years.  The offer is based upon JRAHA developing it further and continue its use as a place to learn about fishing and the outdoors and preserve the abundant fishery population (catch & release only) and the other wildlife and birds as well as the wetlands role.    Our principal mission of connecting youth to nature will be continued in all programs offered at the proposed Outdoor Campus   Currently in the Houston Metro area this is the undisputed finest freshwater fishing venue offering a realistic opportunity for new entrants to catch quality fish and significant numbers of them on their first outings to learn about fishing.  It is considered an outstanding location to teach boater education and for certification under the new Texas law as well as basic canoeing, kayaking and sailing (dinghies or Sunfish).  

This would be dedicated property to Outdoor Education open to the public and specifically targeted through TPWD educational and certification programs to Harris County families and youth to learn:

• Fishing (beginning anglers need to catch fish in order to embrace it as fun and this is a place where they can with great certainty).
• Boating (Texas has recently passed a new bill requiring persons to have boating safety certification expanding  the prior law and this could be the premier training location for the Houston Metro and Galveston Bay area)
• Hunting  (we have done approximately 300 Hunter Safety Certifications for each of the past 3 years and we could do more than 1,000 if we had a good venue dedicated to Outdoors Education).
• Archery (we would be able to teach and provide training for over 10,000 archers annually if we had the right facility for NASP middle schools and high schools in the area, competitive target archers and bow hunters).
• Birding in a major flyway and wetlands with flooded timber environment (this opens a rapidly growing segment of "outdoors"  activities). 

as lifetime recreational pastime,

JrAHA hopes to continue and increase its training & certification programs as we have historically done and make the campus available to current and new partners to utilize for their similar education programs (Partners: TPWD, HISD, HPARD Community Centers, Galveston Bay Estuary Program & TCEQ,  NASP, NRA Foundation, FFA, GSA and invited participants B.A.S.S, CCA, Ducks Unlimited, Audubon Society, BSA, local school districts, USCG Aux, ACA, SCI,  Wild Turkey Federation,  4H, Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and Community Centers from , Baytown, Channelview,  Highlands, LaPorte, Pasadena and others).

JrAHA is seeking gifts to make the property purchase and then proceed with subsequent phases of the capital campaign.

The Capital Fundraising Campaign shall offer Naming Rights to raise necessary funds for major donors.  Some of the naming opportunities are

• Lake Name
• "Outdoors" Education Center & Indoor Archery Range Name (8,000 sf multipurpose building)
• Outdoor Education Campus Name (31 acres)
• Boater Education Boat House Name (1,200 sf dock with boat storage and teaching capacity)
• Archery Outdoor Range Name
• Shooting Sports Outdoor Range Name: 
• Birding Nature Center & Wetlands Preserve Name (pavilion & trails)
• T Piers
• Boat Ramp & Training Beach

Use of Funds

•  31 acres including a 19 acre spring fed well stocked Bass, Crappie & Bluegill freshwater lake with 5 acres surrounding  the lake and 7 acres of buffer flooded timber and wetlands.  
• Initial improvements (dock and launch ramp)
• Boat house & pier (with small training & meeting capacity for boater education certification) and training watercraft & boats
• Multipurpose Outdoors Center 8,000 sf steel building for archery, hunter ed and angler ed training year round
• Outdoor shooting sports & archery range 
•  "Wetland area, flooded timber area and wildlife preserve" development and eradication of invasive species of Chinese Tallows replaced with cypress trees and other native plants & trees.
•  Contingency funds and operating expenses for 4 years

$1,800,000   Total   This amount is based upon fund raising plans from July 2011 through June 2014.  The initial purchase of the land is the critical first step and then subsequent improvements and facilities will be handled through grant opportunities and supporters and donors.  It is a manageable plan and details are available by contacting a board member or calling 713-446-3814 or email at elg3@jraha.com .

Please consider your capacity to support this campaign and make a difference in the development of the future stewards of our natural resources who will also be the voters on those issues soon,  and giving those inner city youth a positive reason to live more productive lives through their experiences in the wonderful world  outdoors and the special “life values” lessons learned there. 

Your donation or pledge can be sent to:

 JrAHA

5014 Scotland

Houston TX 7700

Please indicate that the donation is for the JrAHA Capital Campaign and who should receive the notice for accounting purposes (At year end JrAHA being a tax exempt organization will provide a statement that no goods or services were provided for this gift and as such may be a tax deduction according to your own Tax Return.  If you choose to make a Pledge with installments please indicate that as well with all the specifics listed in the form below.