Get Hooked on Fishing
Donation protected
As we all know, exposure to the nature is very important to children’s development, intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and physically. If children are raised with little or no connection to nature, they may miss out on the many benefits that being outdoors offers. Research shows that outdoor experiences help reduce negative stress and protect psychological well-being, especially in children undergoing stressful life events. It also suggests that children involved in outdoor educational settings show improvement in self-esteem, problem solving and motivation to learn!
By encouraging children to get out and enjoy the simplicity of nature while doing something so rewarding as fishing, they are able to obtain knowledge and skills that can be applied to all areas of their lives. Knowing how to fish instills confidence, as it builds independence and self-worth. It also teaches children the wonders of the great outdoors, while developing an appreciation and respect for nature. Learning a skill, such as fishing, also teaches patience, good morals and ethics, while promoting healthier lifestyles, as well. Unfortunately, in the technological age we live in, people, especially children, spend less time playing outdoors than any other generation. Children are spending more time indoors, glued to a television set and/or video games, becoming less active, which also has profound effects on their health.
Anyone who has ever come from a small, rural town with limited resources knows that it can be difficult sometimes to find appropriate and positive activities for children and teenagers to become involved in. This can sometimes lead to poor choices that have detrimental effects on their futures. Providing children with positive experiences involving outdoor activities helps to create a desire to become involved in more similar activities, which will hopefully deter them from making bad decisions and getting into trouble.
I am currently employed as a technology assistant at an elementary school in my hometown, which serves fourth and fifth graders. Being from such a small county, it seems that every one knows each other and what is going on in their life. Many of the students that attend school here and elsewhere, know I that I love to fish! I’ve been approached numerous times by current and former students for fishing tips and requests to go along. It is such an honor to know that these children look up to me and show such an interest and respect for what I love to do!
Seeing our students, as well as former students, show such an interest and fishing and a desire to participate, triggered something in my mind. After speaking with my teachers, administrators, and superintendent, I began planning a fishing field trip with a couple classes of truly amazing and resilient fourth grade students! With the help and guidance of two truly gifted teachers, Mrs. Jessica Oakes and Mrs. Emily Dunn, along with the support of our administration, support staff, and other staff members, these students have made tremendous progress, academically, socially, and behaviorally! What better way to reward such hard work and growth, than by taking them out for a day of fun and fishing? On Thursday, April 16, I had the pleasure of announcing my plan to these two classes of students. They were beyond thrilled and are so excited to get out there and do some fishing in a couple weeks!
With the help of Mr. Sammy Lee, President of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board, and several others, we have been able to contact many large names in the fishing industry and have started receiving lots of donations of fishing gear for the forty students attending this fishing trip. It is our goal that these children will not only get to participate in an unforgettable a day of fishing, but will also be able to take home fishing gear of their own, so they can continue to develop their talent. Companies donating products include, but are not limited to:
· MoonPie (case of MoonPies)
· Zippo Outdoor (outdoor gear)
· Plano (tackle boxes and/or trays)
· Flambeau (tackle boxes and/or trays)
· Zebco (rod/reel combos)
· Pure Fishing (10 Shakespeare rod/reel combos)
· HI SEAS Fishing Line (100 spools of fishing line)
· Strike King (lures/baits)
· Rat-L-Trap (lures/baits)
· Gary Yamamoto (lures/baits)
· Bass Attacker (lures/baits)
· BullFrog Sunscreen (sunscreen and/or bug spray)
I am also in the process of contacting our local businesses and fishing clubs, to solicit product and monetary donations to help cover the costs this field trip, such as reserving the location, paying for the gas needed for an activity bus, and to cover the costs of food and other supplies needed for that day. I am seeking volunteers to help us that day, as well. It is my goal to have at least one volunteer per child, so that each child can receive individual help and lessons from experienced fishermen and women. Local businesses donating products, merchandise, and/or volunteering their time include, but are not limited to:
· BJ’s Tackle (live bait & volunteer)
· Walmart Express of Snow Hill ($25 gift card)
· Food Lion of Snow Hill(gift card)
· GAYCO General Contractors (monetary donation & volunteers)
· FlexAppeal Personal Fitness Training (monetary donation & volunteers)
· Gay Farms, Inc. (monetary donation & volunteers)
· Greene County - Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (volunteers)
· Neuse River Catfishing Club (volunteers & photography)
Our trip is planned for Wednesday, May 6, 2015! We would sincerely appreciate and accept any donations that you would be willing to make. If you would like to be involved or help in anyway, please feel free to contact me ([email redacted]) to find out how you can help make this day the best day ever! I have very high expectations for this trip! If all goes well, and I pray it will, I am hoping to offer this to more children, classes, and eventually our entire school. Any excess funds raised will be used to provide this type of opportunity to more children.
Thank you, in advance, for your time and help getting our students “hooked on fishing!”
By encouraging children to get out and enjoy the simplicity of nature while doing something so rewarding as fishing, they are able to obtain knowledge and skills that can be applied to all areas of their lives. Knowing how to fish instills confidence, as it builds independence and self-worth. It also teaches children the wonders of the great outdoors, while developing an appreciation and respect for nature. Learning a skill, such as fishing, also teaches patience, good morals and ethics, while promoting healthier lifestyles, as well. Unfortunately, in the technological age we live in, people, especially children, spend less time playing outdoors than any other generation. Children are spending more time indoors, glued to a television set and/or video games, becoming less active, which also has profound effects on their health.
Anyone who has ever come from a small, rural town with limited resources knows that it can be difficult sometimes to find appropriate and positive activities for children and teenagers to become involved in. This can sometimes lead to poor choices that have detrimental effects on their futures. Providing children with positive experiences involving outdoor activities helps to create a desire to become involved in more similar activities, which will hopefully deter them from making bad decisions and getting into trouble.
I am currently employed as a technology assistant at an elementary school in my hometown, which serves fourth and fifth graders. Being from such a small county, it seems that every one knows each other and what is going on in their life. Many of the students that attend school here and elsewhere, know I that I love to fish! I’ve been approached numerous times by current and former students for fishing tips and requests to go along. It is such an honor to know that these children look up to me and show such an interest and respect for what I love to do!
Seeing our students, as well as former students, show such an interest and fishing and a desire to participate, triggered something in my mind. After speaking with my teachers, administrators, and superintendent, I began planning a fishing field trip with a couple classes of truly amazing and resilient fourth grade students! With the help and guidance of two truly gifted teachers, Mrs. Jessica Oakes and Mrs. Emily Dunn, along with the support of our administration, support staff, and other staff members, these students have made tremendous progress, academically, socially, and behaviorally! What better way to reward such hard work and growth, than by taking them out for a day of fun and fishing? On Thursday, April 16, I had the pleasure of announcing my plan to these two classes of students. They were beyond thrilled and are so excited to get out there and do some fishing in a couple weeks!
With the help of Mr. Sammy Lee, President of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board, and several others, we have been able to contact many large names in the fishing industry and have started receiving lots of donations of fishing gear for the forty students attending this fishing trip. It is our goal that these children will not only get to participate in an unforgettable a day of fishing, but will also be able to take home fishing gear of their own, so they can continue to develop their talent. Companies donating products include, but are not limited to:
· MoonPie (case of MoonPies)
· Zippo Outdoor (outdoor gear)
· Plano (tackle boxes and/or trays)
· Flambeau (tackle boxes and/or trays)
· Zebco (rod/reel combos)
· Pure Fishing (10 Shakespeare rod/reel combos)
· HI SEAS Fishing Line (100 spools of fishing line)
· Strike King (lures/baits)
· Rat-L-Trap (lures/baits)
· Gary Yamamoto (lures/baits)
· Bass Attacker (lures/baits)
· BullFrog Sunscreen (sunscreen and/or bug spray)
I am also in the process of contacting our local businesses and fishing clubs, to solicit product and monetary donations to help cover the costs this field trip, such as reserving the location, paying for the gas needed for an activity bus, and to cover the costs of food and other supplies needed for that day. I am seeking volunteers to help us that day, as well. It is my goal to have at least one volunteer per child, so that each child can receive individual help and lessons from experienced fishermen and women. Local businesses donating products, merchandise, and/or volunteering their time include, but are not limited to:
· BJ’s Tackle (live bait & volunteer)
· Walmart Express of Snow Hill ($25 gift card)
· Food Lion of Snow Hill(gift card)
· GAYCO General Contractors (monetary donation & volunteers)
· FlexAppeal Personal Fitness Training (monetary donation & volunteers)
· Gay Farms, Inc. (monetary donation & volunteers)
· Greene County - Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (volunteers)
· Neuse River Catfishing Club (volunteers & photography)
Our trip is planned for Wednesday, May 6, 2015! We would sincerely appreciate and accept any donations that you would be willing to make. If you would like to be involved or help in anyway, please feel free to contact me ([email redacted]) to find out how you can help make this day the best day ever! I have very high expectations for this trip! If all goes well, and I pray it will, I am hoping to offer this to more children, classes, and eventually our entire school. Any excess funds raised will be used to provide this type of opportunity to more children.
Thank you, in advance, for your time and help getting our students “hooked on fishing!”
Organizer
Samantha Gay
Organizer
Walstonburg, NC
