Lewis County PUD Supplies Fish for Kids
Release Date: Jun 4, 2012
Contact(s): Ken Sandusky
Once again on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, four kid’s free fishing days will help families connect to the outdoors so they can better understand why nature matters and how it provides for our wellbeing and enjoyment.
Mount St. Helens Ranger District
On the Mount St. Helens Ranger District, the Kids Fishing Derby will be held on June 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the day-use area in Ariel Park at Merwin Lake.
“This is a fun filled event,” Mount St. Helens Ranger District Fisheries Biologist, Adam Haspiel reported. “Everything is free, including lunch.” Fifteen hundred large, catchable rainbow trout will be stocked in a netted off section of Merwin Lake. There will be fishing rods available for kids to use on loan, worms for bait and volunteers to show kids how to fish.
There will be lots of activities for the kids to do when they get done fishing as well. Activities include a parade and storytelling inside a 40-foot long inflatable salmon, face painting, make your own volcano, aqua-aquarium, boater safety, Gyotaku-Japanese fish printing on tee-shirts and make your own pin-on button. No pre-registration is required.
Adam Haspiel said “We invite all families and anyone interested to come out and enjoy the day, it’s always great fun!” Call 360-449-7800 for more information.
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District fish day is also scheduled for June 9, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Cowlitz Falls day-use area. Approximately 200 kids participate every year. Call 360-497-1100 for more information about this event.
Fisheries and environmental education activities for the Cowlitz Valley fish day event include fish printing, an educational display, knot tying, casting demonstration, passport question activity, a compost worm box, beading activity and, of course, Smokey Bear will be there. There will be fishing poles for loan. Fish cleaning is provided.
Local Girl Scout troop #40337 led by Cowlitz Valley Ranger District Information Specialist, Amber Malamphy play a major role every year in development and presentation of this event. Other participating agencies include Lewis County PUD and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Lewis County PUD supplies the trout for this event, while WDFW provides and delivers the fish for all the other Gifford Pinchot National Forest kids fishing events.
Mount Adams Ranger District
The Mount Adams Ranger District fishing event occurs a week after the other three events, giving families with kids 13 and under another chance to spend time together learning and having fun. This year it will occur June 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Guler-Mt. Adams County Park in Trout Lake, Wash. This event is put on with the help of the White Salmon Steelheaders club.
“Bring a white t-shirt for the fish printing or gyotaku activity. All fishing gear & bait is provided. Come out and share our campfire, fish fry, hot dogs and soda; not to mention all the fun games,” said Mt. Adams Ranger District Fisheries Biologist, Stephanie Caballero.
“Everybody always has a lot of fun!” Caballero continued. Call 509-395-3400 for more information on this event.
Get Outdoors Day
For the second year in a row, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest will provide a fourth free fishing day as a part of the Get Outdoors Day – Vancouver. Vancouver’s GO Day has moved this year to Fort Vancouver to accommodate the growing popularity of this event meant to help families learn more about how to enjoy the outdoors.
Come to Fort Vancouver, Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to try a myriad of outdoor activities. Learn about the history of the area in two historic encampments. Try disc golf, archery and outdoor cooking. Take a crack at the climbing wall and catch a fish to take home for dinner.
Call Ken Sandusky at 360-891-5007 for more information about Get Outdoors Day – Vancouver, or to volunteer to help out.