'Learn to Fish' Fishing Derby
We are excited to be bringing our 'Learn to fish' Fishing Derby to central Connecticut in the spring of 2021 (date TBD) at Winding Trails in Farmington, CT. Our unique fishing derby is guaranteed to be a morning of fun for everyone involved!
During the derby, youth ages 6-12 (accompanied by their guardians) are partnered with sage adult fishermen (and women) volunteers. The older adults teach basic fishing skills to the youth and the intergenerational teams compete to win prizes.
The morning begins at 8:30 am with everyone gathering for a continental breakfast in Nature's Porch on Walton Pond at Winding Trails. During breakfast, the youth are introduced to their older adult mentors and are provided their fishing equipment for the morning. As a group, they learn the basics of fishing including how to set up a fishing rod, how to identify their catch, and more. By 9:30 am, the intergenerational teams are set up at their desired on-shore location at Walton Pond and the fishing derby begins.
For the next 1.5 hours, the fishermen and women mentors teach the youth how to fish - and assist as the youth catch their first fish. And, of course, the teams compete to win prizes. Who will reel in the largest fish of the morning? the smallest fish? the most fish? Who came wearing the most creative hat?
At 11:00 am, the teams reassemble as a large group under the pavilion for hot dogs and prizes. Each youth will go home having:
- experienced the joy of fishing
- learned new skills
- met a new friend, and
- had a whole lot of fun.
Oh, and each youth will go home with a special prize, too.
Youth can bring their own pole or borrow one of ours. Worms will be provided and are the only permitted bait for the derby.
