| June is Great Outdoor Month, and it is time to | | | | signs of where the fish might be, how to cast, |
| start thinking of ways to get the children | | | | how to bait a hook, or even how to tie a hook, |
| outdoors, and enjoying the wonders of nature. | | | | etc. It is also a way to teach them how to have |
| Why not start Great Outdoors Month off with a | | | | respect for water. |
| little fishing derby? These can be rather | | | | How to give out prizes. You will want everyone |
| inexpensive affairs. Fishing rods and equipment for | | | | to have a feeling of success when they go fishing. |
| children can be inexpensive, you might even have | | | | Try to make sure that you have a little certificate |
| these available from other fishing trips. You can | | | | for everyone, these can all be printed out on a |
| find earthworms in your lawn, just turn on the | | | | computer. You can give out prizes for each fish |
| sprinkler for a good portion of the day, and start | | | | caught if you want, it is a good opportunity to |
| looking for the worms in the evening. We actually | | | | discuss some fishing laws of the land, ie the legal |
| buy our worms from Walmart, I don't have the | | | | size of the fish. Get the children to measure the |
| time to look for earthworms. | | | | fish when they catch the fish. |
| Every city, town or village has a body of water | | | | Just one word of warning, if you are thinking of |
| that contains fish. I have fished in a pond in the | | | | eating your fish, check with the local guidelines. In |
| middle of Albany, New York for crappie, bass, | | | | New York State, because of the pollution there |
| panfish, and the children had a gas. Children, for | | | | are recommended amounts of fish per person |
| the most part do not care what species the fish | | | | per week that can be consumed. Even though |
| are fishing for, they just love to catch them. I | | | | children like to keep their catches, if you explain |
| have taken children out to catch panfish, and with | | | | that you are catching and releasing the fish as a |
| all the yelling and screaming you would think they | | | | conservation issue, they will understand. Everyone |
| were catching whales. | | | | has a digital camera that is capable of taking short |
| Holding your own fishing derby is also a way to | | | | videos or stills. Take a picture of the catch. |
| teach the children how to fish, ie how to look for | | | | |