February 28th, 2015: Volunteering at the 11th Annual Kid's Fishing Clinic

Every year, the Citrus County Parks & Recreation Department in cooperation with the FWC sponsors a Kid's Fishing Clinic as a way of introducing the sport at a young age.  Click here for the details.  This is the time at which all children soak up information like a sponge  Teaching them the correct way to hold a fish, explaining to them why it's important to wear a life vest,  and giving them a reason to take care of this wonderful Nature Coast fishery they will soon inherit from us grown-ups.  Who knows how these simple events eventually change the course of one child's future.  Kristin Smith, from the Citrus County Parks and Recreation Dept. and Morgan, from the FWC, both contacted the NCLA and asked for our help in a volunteer capacity.  There would be approximately 150 - 300 children there and they needed as many helping hands as they could get.  Naturally we agreed to help, after all, both the CCP&R Dept., and the FWC have always provided us with the supplies we need in order to keep the NCLA alive and active.

At the NCLA Planning Meeting on February 2nd, we brought up the topic of the Kid's Fishing Clinic and the need for volunteers to help out.  Out of 31 ladies in attendance that evening, we had eleven of them signed up to volunteer by the end of the meeting.  That's a pretty good representation of the kind of women we have in this group. 

The volunteer project was divided into two parts.  Each child that registered for the event was going to receive a free Zebco rod and reel, complete with spooled line, bobber, sinker and hook - ready for fishing. 

In order for those to be handed out to 200 + kids who were especially excited to cast a line for the first time, they had to be spooled with line and rigged with tackle.  They didn't come that way, someone would have to take the time to get that done for approximately 300 kids.  That's where Part 1 of the volunteer project came in.  Seven of the eleven NCLA women set time aside from their already busy days to meet together, along with various other Citrus County fishing clubs, at the Ft. Island Trail Park Wednesday morning, February 25th, to spend the day working together to rig fishing rods for use on Saturday. 

Alice, Theresa, Dot, Pam, Linda, Suzanne & RG working together and with other fishing clubs to get those rods and reels rigged.

The assembly line forms...

Break for group picture:

Suzanne in the black jacket
Theresa in the light blue
Pam in the pink vest
Linda in the grey shirt
In the back, Dot with sunglasses
Alice with the pup
RG in the red shirt

From left to right:
Dot, Alice, Suzanne, Theresa in front, Linda, and Pam

Overall, the consensus was that the Rod and Reel Assembly was a bit disorganized, so there was some discussion about how to improve the process some for next year, but all the clubs pulled together and worked out a plan to make it happen.  There were several set-back and some rods had to been re-rigged for various reasons.  Despite all of that, the day was a productive one and everyone felt like their time and efforts were appreciated.  Thanks to the Parks & Rec. Dept. for bringing coffee and donuts for the gang!

The final product  - ready for the kids!

Wednesday's work was done.  Saturday was only a few days away.

Saturday morning 7:00 a.m.

Pam and Delores arrive to find the FWC team unloading truck beds full of equipment and supplies for the Kid's Fishing Clinic.  It was an overcast morning at 60 degrees with 10-15 mph winds.  Not the best day for fishing fun but there was no controlling Mother Nature.  We would make the best of the situation.

Setting up the Skill Stations Tents.

Skill Stations included Casting, Knot Tying, Fishing Tackle, Good Stewardship, and Touch Tank.. 

Volunteer Sign-Up

One of the FWC team folded down the tail-gate of his truck, flipped open a three-ring binder and instructed those standing in line to sign-in and put their volunteer name stickers on so that's what we did.

Parking

As soon as all of the parking spaces were filled (by volunteers who had arrived early) we were promptly asked to move our vehicles to the grass so that registered families would find it easier to find parking for the event. 

This is the Sponsor Banner that was posted right beside the Registration Table. 

The Casting Station

This area is where each child was able to pick up a rod and try to cast the weighted plugs (in place of a lure) into one of the hoola-hoops.  A little like target practice, if you will.  All set up and ready to go. 

The self-titled "Bag Ladies"

These fun ladies, along with Delores, were part of the "goody-bag" assembly line.  From Bev in the yellow jacket to Vicki in the brown jacket, all from different clubs, Citrus County Fishing Club, Keep Citrus County Beautiful, Dixie Bay Boat and Fishing Club, and the Nature Coast Lady Anglers.  Their job was to make sure each child filled out a survey about their thoughts on the event and then as they turned in their survey, they were given a "goody bag" with all sorts of kid-friendly activities. 

The Registration Table is ready to go.  Each child received a t-shirt commemorating the event.

Here comes the first wave of kids - The 9:00 group.  Ready for the starting gates to open.  Ready or not, here they come!

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Clan and the Citrus County Parks & Recreation Clan without whom this even never would have been possible.  And a big shout-out to them from the Nature Coast Lady Anglers, too, because they are big supporters of our group as well!

The "Touch Tank" in action.  Who doesn't want to see what a horseshoe crab looks like underneath?  We think the parents were a little jealous  :o)

Ethical Angling & Good Stewardship Tent
There is a wealth of knowledge behind that table

Same Station - different view.  These kids are eager to learn!  They've got some great teachers.

Below is the "Tackle Station"
(bobbers, weights, circle-hooks, jig-heads....)

Let's learn how to tie fishing knots at the "Knot Tying Station"

Special thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard for bringing one of their boats for "show-and-tell".  This was a "no-grown-ups-allowed" tour and the kids were digging it!

It was a bit too windy for casting accuracy but the kids could have cared less.  They were just having fun learning the mechanics of the reel's release and retrieve mechanisms.

After each child spent some time at each of the Skill Stations, they were directed to the "Fishing Pole Store" where Pam, here on the left, one of our very own NCLA ladies, would hand them their very own brand new fishing rod to keep and take home.  From there, she would point them in the direction they would go to practice their fishing skills for real.

Those kids would walk to the water's edge, where another volunteer would help them bait their hooks and cast their line out in order to catch a pinfish or two.

There were a few fish caught that day....

Girls can catch fish, too.  There was no shortage of smiling faces.

More future lady anglers in the making  :o)

By 2:00 p.m., the wind had picked up considerably.  The rain had held off for a number of hours and we were quite thankful for that, for the kid's sake, but there came a time when you knew it was just a matter of time before the skies let loose.  Most of the children had already run the course and parents were wrapping things up and leading them back to their cars before the rains came.  Those volunteers who were still around helped to break things down and pack supplies up.  Over all, it was a wonderful and rewarding experience and we can't wait to do it again next year.  Thanks to the FWC and CCP&R for inviting us to be a part of it all.