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 who have little or no prior experience in the fields of hunting, fishing, or conservation.
To date, $2,512,848 has been awarded to help fund 362 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.
The MDWFP will be accepting applications for the 2023-2024 funding period beginning April 1, 2023. Applications may only be submitted between April 1-May 1, 2023. Applications may be emailed to YPI@wfp.ms.gov from April 1-May 1, 2023.
The MDWFP is pleased to announce that 53 projects were selected for funding for the 2022-2023 grant period:
Final reports for YPI projects must be submitted within 30 days of project completion. For the 2022-2023 funding period, all projects must be completed by May 30, 2023. Submit reports by email to YPI@wfp.ms.gov.