C.A.S.T., which stands for "Catch a Special Thrill," is an all-volunteer fishing and boating event for disabled and disadvantaged children ranging in age from 4 years old to young adult. In addition to boating and fishing, lunch is served and each registered child receives a fun pack full of goodies, fishing equipment, t-shirt, hat, and memories to last a lifetime.

"For some kids, this is their first experience fishing," said Kay Cowan of the Glen Canyon Field Division with Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region. "For the volunteers, it's a great opportunity to be part of a special experience that these children will always remember."

The Lake Powell event will begin on Saturday, September 29, with early morning registration where participants are assigned to boating volunteers and given a t-shirt, hat, fishing pole and tackle box to keep. After being fitted with a life jacket, the fishing fun begins out on the lake. After a couple of hours of fishing, participants will be brought back to shore at the Stateline Marina for lunch and a closing ceremony where they receive fun packs and awards.

Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region was the first region to become involved with the CAST for Kids Foundation in 1991 when it was initially formed. Partners in the Lake Powell event include: C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation; Bureau of Reclamation; the National Park Service's Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

For information about the C.A.S.T. event at Lake Powell, contact Kay Cowan at (928) 645-0403 or Clarence Herron at (928) 645-0456. For background information about C.A.S.T., contact Valerie Heath-Harrison with Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Office at (801) 524-3664.