Youth fishing camp participants caught on quickly. By day three, they were casting from shore like pros.
“Catching fish is a blast… I caught eight fish today and four yesterday,” said Aiden Plante, a 10-year-old who attended the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) Youth Fishing Camp last month.
Kennan Hunter’s thank-you note to camp organizers.
Aiden was one of fifty children from 7 to 14 years old that participated in the June 27th to 29th RISAA Youth Fishing Camp, which was held at Rocky Point State Park in Warwick, RI. Camp partners included the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Steve Medeiros, president of the RISAA said, “A lot goes on when you fish. It appeals to our sense of adventure and teaches us patience. It is one of those activities where science and art converge. Fishing allows us to build a lifetime of memories and friendships with those we fish with.”
Medeiros said, “Our aim this year (the second year of the camp) was to add more fishing time to the camper experience. In addition to fishing from shore and on private vessels we added a trip on the Seven B’s party boat out of Pt. Judith, RI.”
“We are proud to partner with RISAA on its Youth Fishing Camp again this year,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “Providing opportunities for our children to get outdoors and connect with nature is so important. Kudos to RISAA for putting on this camp and inspiring a love of fishing in our young people. It is efforts like this that will help shape a whole new generation of environmental stewards. Terrific!”
Topics covered over the three-day camp included fish identification, conservation, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, casting from shore and fishing from private boats as well as a party/charter boat.
“I liked collecting and identifying fish in the net,” said Tiffany MacPherson, a 10-year-old from Pawtucket, RI. Tiffany was referring to the purse seine net that DEM staff deployed from shore to collect sea life samples. Children then examined the catch in a small pool, receiving education on sea life that was caught and how it relates to the environment. Kimberly Sullivan, who leads DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education (ARE) program, and her staff played a major role in fish identification and all marine biology aspects of the camp program.
The success of the program is best summed up by a note RISAA received from camper Kennan Hunter:
“Dear Saltwater Anglers: Thank you for doing this camp and allowing me to participate in it. It was the first time I either fished or was on any boat.”
Camp video
Photos
The 2017 RISAA Youth Fishing Camp participants and instructors.
Mike Warren, RISAA board member and volunteer captain, lands a scup. Campers fished on fifteen RISAA member boats on the last day of camp.
The Donald sisters (McKenna and Kyra) proudly display their RISAA Fishing Camp graduation certificates.
RISAA volunteers instruct campers on how to surf cast from shore.
Campers fished for fluke and other ground fish on the Seven B’s party boat out of Pt. Judith, RI.
Campers identified fish in a pool that were captured using a purse seine net deployed by DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education staff.
Encouraging…life is like one big tide pool. Or, better. So many metaphors.
Fishing is very interesting game. Specially every kids like it. Usually we want to give entertainment to our kids from anyway. We bring our baby with us for fishing but we should consider their safety first. If you want to go fishing you should bring life jacket, safety equipment, seat belt for boat seat. You can take your baby when you go lake fishing or small river but should not bring them sea fishing in the deep ocean because they can be get scared.
Couldn’t agree with you more! Check Pacer Group out on Facebook, you can find a bunch of fishing tips, stories etc.
This is nice family trip on the fishing time. Every kids like fishing because they get lost’s of entertainment from it. I would like to suggest every parents when you go fishing you should think about your babies safety. Thank you very much for sharing this post.