Team, there will be a Cast for Kids event held on Strawberry at Soldier Creek this Saturday. The same location as the DAV event last week. They are short 2 or 3 boats for the kids so if any of you would like to take a disabled child out fishing they would really appreciate your help. I have participated in this event the last few years and have found it greatly rewarding. In fact the father of the boy I took out last year was the one who donated all of the hamburgers for the dav event this year. I have included some information below for you including the contact person if you are interested.
· CAST for Kids is** **designed to create an environment whereby children with disabilities or who are disadvantaged and their caretakers can leave their problems on shore and share a day of fun on the water they may not otherwise get to experience. The events also increase awareness of disabled and disadvantaged children in communities and teaches appreciation for natural resources. This is all made possible through the cooperation of government agencies, national and local sponsors, local interest groups, and volunteers just like you!
· The program started in 1991 in Washington State and has since spread across the United States.
· In 2012, there will be 45 events across the U.S., including the Strawberry Event to be held on Saturday, August 11, in this very location!
· This is the 16th year there’s been an event in Utah.
· Youth between the ages of 6 and 17 with disabilities or who are disadvantaged can participate. Older persons who have developmental disabilities are also welcome. Each participant is encouraged to bring along a companion (friend or sibling) and a parent must accompany them on the boat.
· For the participant that CAST is designed for, the program provides rods, reels, tackle boxes, tackle, baseball caps, and t-shirts. The companion who participates will have the use of a donated rod, reel, and tackle for the day. Fun packs containing educational materials on natural resources, snacks, and activities will be given to each participant and companion to take home.
· The sponsoring organizations cover the day use fees for those who volunteer on the day of the event, but we do not cover camping fees.
· Registration for volunteers begins at 6:30 a.m. and the day concludes at approximately 2 p.m. The participants start to arrive around 7:30 and as soon as they are registered, they are fitted with life jackets, given fishing equipment, and loaded onto a boat for fishing. We ask the boats to come in off the lake at about 11:00 and shortly thereafter the barbecue lunch will be served. At about 12:30, there will be a closing ceremony where fun packs and other items are handed out. At the end of the day there is a raffle to raise funds to continue to support the event.
· If you can help us out, please contact Valerie Heath-Harrison at 801-524-3664 or via e-mail at vheathharrison@usbr.gov.