A Day of Fun in the Sun at the 2017 C.A.S.T. for Kids Event at New Melones Lake

Written by: Emily Quinn

Participants enjoyed spending the day fishing on New Melones Lake, CA.Children and volunteers were reeling in the fun at this year’s C.A.S.T. for Kids event at New Melones Lake in California. On September 9, Reclamation hosted the annual event which included 25 children participants and about 30 volunteers.

Several agencies participated in the event, including the Stanislaus Forest Service, National Park Service (Yosemite), California State Parks, Army Corps of Engineers, California Fire, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Reclamation managed a booth to educate participants about quagga mussels.

Participants thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to fish from a boat, where they caught and released several fish. There were three boats in operation, including a Reclamation boat, New Melones Lake Marina’s pontoon boat, and a boat loaned to the event by a volunteer.

The event offered a variety of fun activities for participants, including the opportunity to create art and showcase their work on a boat, and fishing with magnets in a kiddie pool. The afternoon concluded with a great barbecue lunch and awards ceremony.

C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity. The program is designed to create an accessible environment whereby children with disadvantages and disabilities can benefit from a day of fun and fishing on the water with volunteers.

We wish to thank all of the volunteers for making this such a successful and special event for the participants. We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the other agencies that set up booths and activities for the kids.

To learn more about C.A.S.T. for Kids, visit http://castforkids.org/.

A child observes aquatic wildlife at one of the booths during the C.A.S.T. for Kids event at New Melones Lake

A group of participants pose for a picture during the barbecue lunch at the C.A.S.T. for Kids event at New Melones Lake

Published on September 18, 2017