fishing club at elementary school

[Andrew Erickson]

Hey guys, wasn't sure where to post this but I work at an elementary school and was thinking about starting up an after school fishing club for the kids. It would only go about an hour and run 4-5 weeks. Not necessarily taking them fishing but just teaching them about it and hopefully getting them into the sport at a pretty young age. The thing is i'm not exactly sure where to start and since they are young, i don't want what i say to go right over their heads. Anyone have any experience with teaching the younger kids about the outdoors? Just looking to be pointed in the right direction with this. Thanks

[picksbigwagon]

I teach Elementary PE, and have done this a few times in my career. Kiddie poles or zebco 33's with casting plugs trying to hit hula hoops is a fun afternoon. Last year we took our Jr. naturalists ice fishing and cleaned up trash on Prior Lake. Limit your numbers to 12-15, teach them about safety, teach them how tie a hook ( use string or 20 pd test and big hooks with the hooks snipped off. We made pop bottle fishing poles last sprin with our. Jr. naturalists as well. When it comes to "fishing day" ( you have to take them, trust me), ask for a parent or three to volunteer to help out. Always always alwyays use barbless or pinched barbed hooks. Stress the safety and you will be surprised how surprised they can be.

Oh yeah, when it comes to fishing day, bring along a 5 gallon bucket, fill it with some water and put the fish caught in the bucket unless it is super hot out. Some kids will be mesmerized by being able to reach in and touch "real" fish.

Good luck

(Oh yeah, 3rd grade and higher, trust me, don't take kids younger than 3rd grade in a group setting like that)

[Sonicrunch]

at first glance, I thought the title was "Fight Club at elementary school"

but I know we don't talk about fight club...

[BoxMN]

Hey Andrew, I used to volunteer with the MinnAqua program, a part of the DNR, right when they started up. It is much like what you are describing, but sort of aimed at inner city kids, or kids that didn't have much experience with "outdoor type" activities. The folks were great to work with, and they have lots of experience, even if they don't help you out, their material and advice could.

I think it would be a great adventure, for the kids and for you! Good luck, you will have fun!

Here is link to them on the DNR site:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/minnaqua/index.html

[Hester]

at first glance, I thought the title was "Fight Club at elementary school"

but I know we don't talk about fight club...

I forgot is that rule #1 or rule # 2?

[fish_eat_sleep]

I know theres a elementary school in Lakeville that does a fishing field trip for the whole 5th grade at an area park. Parent volunteers bait hooks and bring a huge cooler full of the kids' lunch and water to eat at the park. some kids like the fishing, some play on the playground. All the rods and tackle are stored out of reach during the day and kids must have permission. ties into class with a math and science lesson.

I can imagine a fishing club would draw interest in kids that already know a little about sport.. I wish they had that when i was in school. I was a fishing nut since before I can remember... I agree maybe use conservation and safety as a starter, background knowledge of the sport first!

[Andrew Erickson]

thanks for the advice guys!

[P_Norts]

Picksbigwagon is just about right on with his thoughts. I also teach PE and have done fishing units in the past. I start this unit with 4th graders. I received my equipment through a grant I wrote to the Future Fishermen's Foundation. I don't think they still offer the grant but they can be a great resource to you. Shakespeare also was great to work with a lady named Roxanne is wonderful. I am in Illinois and our DNR has a wonderful comic/coloring book type resource that was a huge help. If your DNR does not have such a thing go to Illinois HSOforum and they offer them on their HSOforum under teaching aides. I also did a power point with types of fish to learn fish ID. We practiced cast with closed reels and casting plugs in the parking lot. We learned how to tie knots and set up our lines and then took a fieldtrip to a park dist. lake to fish. Blue gills are abundant there and the kids had a blast.

Good Luck and have fun.

Mama Norts

[JohnMickish]

Send an email off to the National Professional Anglers Association and see what they can do to help. The NPAA has a program set up to help kids get involved with fishing. The Walleye Federation would be my second contact. Nancy Koep (Koeps Bait in Glenwood) does an elementary class so she would be a great place for info as well.

The NPAA convention was held in town this past weekend and how to get kids involved with fishing is always part of the event. We even have a benefit action and fund raiser for it.

Get in touch with those two organizations to see what they can do. Not to sound to much like a commercial, but if anyone is interested in teaching kids, the first thing I would recommend is joining the NPAA. It's not just for professionals and tournament fisher people, it's for people that want to keep the sport of fishing alive, cuz it's hard to compete against video games with todays kids.

[bemidjibasser]

I'm pretty sure Bassmasters still does a casting kids competition, or at least they used to... Also keep America fishing is an online resource that may be of value.

I do a trapping unit as well as a rod building unit and crankbait building/ spearing decoy unit with grades 5-8 where I teach. The kids have a blast and we take a trip to a state park to use our rods in the spring. Last year we got to go spearing on a little lake nearby and also go trapping for muskrats and beaver.

[cylinder]

Some of the kids will be way more advanced than others at the start. Rather than having them be bored, maybe pair them off and make them group leaders.