Since some of you have asked, here's a bit more detail on what the group is turning into. The goal is to be a one stop place where anyone, regardless of age, ability, and/or skills can come to learn about the outdoors. Where anyone can learn and then have fun outdoors.
Some of the dedicated committees we have are:
Women's group, headed up by Cale and her group She Wears Waders PNW. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2508076396280531/
Hunter of course runs his Western Boys Outdoors, and will head up the Youth giveaways along with Veterans. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587360039315&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_user
The Salmon derby is my pet project. Along with page, group and website development, of which the last is something totally unfamiliar to me. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589538205974
Educational classes are being discussed and arrangements made on locations. It looks like surf fishing, salmon from beaches and all kinds of tackle making classes are popular.
Committees upcoming:
Financial assistance for anyone who meets yet to be determined criteria for help. This will range from help with license fees to gear to actual trips outdoors.
Family outdoors. This committee will focus on developing activities where families can easily participate. From camping, hiking and fishing to charters and guides who are capable of hosting a family.
Auction committee will run auctions where we will have new and used outdoor gear up to bid on.
Clean up committee to run events at various locations where we'll clean up access points and have volunteers able to win items by showing up and helping. There use to be a group that did this, River Junkies, that I need to see if they are still around. If so, I'd love to do joint clean ups with them.
Meet and greets. Meetings. Picnics and/or potlucks/bbqs. Just straight social gatherings where people can meet the group board members and anyone else who shows. One idea will be "mini" outdoor shows where vendors can set up a booth and pitch their products or plans to whoever shows up. Vendors can be anything outdoors related. You got a business? Let's grow together. 52k+ members with up to 200 new requests a day means LOT of opportunity to promote your businesses.
Competitions. These will be tied to educational classes for the most part. Plans run from lure making competition to fastest filet job to cook offs.
Raffle/waffle/whatever you want to call them. Some gear will be held for use in a raffle. Some items will be limited entry, others unlimited.
As we grow, we will expand to even more. Already in touch with WDFW on having them appear at some events. These opportunities are all subject to budgets and may be a year or three away from regularly happening. Other government agencies like city/town business boards, Tribal governments, and such are being reached out to for joint activities and partnerships.
While we also hold business licenses and resale permits, we aren't going to be a "retailer". We want to have retail partners. We want to help businesses grow, especially local businesses.
Now, here comes the pitch. We need help. We need volunteers. We need subject matter experts. We need committee members and directors. As you can see, we have lots of ideas and plans. We are open to more as well. What we lack is volunteers. We need locations to visit. Restaurants or diners interested in holding meet and greets and meetings. We need sponsors for the derby. And...
Money.
And here's where it gets serious. Money is seriously in need. Not just in here, but for oh so many. In the nine years of this group, not once have I asked for money. Instead of asking outright, we started the statewide salmon derby. The more people who enter, the more funding available to the nonprofit. Along with the bigger the prizes get for the derby.
So far, everything to start the nonprofit has come out of my pocket. And now for my sob story. I have been fighting social security since 2019. I get $450 a month in cash. Another $300ish in food. I've always known how tight money gets. And that's why I started this nonprofit. But without funding coming in, the group's nonprofit will never accomplish the goals.
There are NO paid positions in the group. None of the board receives any money, not even me. Everything goes back into the group as prizes or funding of projects that help you all. We will reimburse volunteers eventually, following state and federal laws, but until money comes in, we are limited in ability to help. We really are focused on being a true nonprofit. Everyone involved is an avid outdoors person with the same goals in mind. Getting people outdoors, especially the future generations who will take over from us in a decade or so.
This group and nonprofit are for YOU. It's for future generations. It's for All. Think of anything you contribute to the group as investments into the future of the outdoors for YOU. Anything we get goes back to you all in some way. Donations of time, gear, tackle, and money is what I'm asking for. Be it to Cale for the women's group, Hunter for the kids and Vets or the nonprofit itself, anything is helpful.
Best yet, enter the salmon derby! You get to show off fish and hopefully win lots of prizes. All while helping fund us. This is what I am asking from everyone. Join the derby. Share the derby info. The more who enter, the more who win and the more you can win. I have put in $200 of my own money to start the prize pool for adults and $50 for the youth prize pool. We could see huge prize amounts. Just look at like this. 52,000 members. If 1% of members enter derby, prize pool hits $10k. Add a zero to that $10k if 10% entered. Imagine what it could reach...
Anyone with questions is free to ask. Our official papers are available from the state. Come to a meeting to learn more. Better yet, volunteer with us and learn everything.
Washington State Fishing With River Names The Original With River Names Washington state fishing group. We are now a non-profit dedicated to getting people outdoors. Primarily focused on fishing with this page, we also cover hunting, hiking, camping, even rock hounding. Anything outdoors!
05/21/2026