Andover, Hebron, Marlborough Youth and Family Services has been involved over the years in many fun and unique programs for local kids. This year, AHM added fishing to its list of attractions. Andover resident Dianne Grenier, who also works for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, approached the local youth service bureau with the idea of a fishing school program. DEEP and AHM teamed up to offer the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) Program, better known as "Fish School."
“I am a 21-year volunteer with the CARE program,” said Grenier. “I was the chief instructor for the class.” According to Grenier, CARE started in 1986, “and we've taught over 150,000 students about fish and fishing in Connecticut waters,” she said. “We teach about fish identification, tackle, terminology, knot-tying, rules and regulations, bait to use, sportsmanship, what you might catch and where to go fishing.” Classes are conducted all over Connecticut and are offered free of charge.
“It's a two-hour classroom program followed by a fishing trip,” said Grenier. The family program, geared toward children ages 7 and up, began on May 4 at AHM community center on Pendleton Drive. “We had almost 50 students and six CARE instructors,” said Grenier. According to AHM, 25 children and 22 adults attended the classroom portion of the program.
On Saturday, May 12, 13 children and 11 adults attended Field Day at the Hebron Sportsman Club. A group of volunteers from the Club, led by Richard Cray, joined CARE instructors for the field portion of the event.
“This was the first time that the DEEP teamed up on this project with AHM Youth and Family Services, but it will certainly not be the last,” said Grenier. “The overwhelming success of the recent Fishing School at AHM combined with the support of the Hebron Sportsman Club has everyone at DEEP very enthusiastic about bringing this program back again next year for local kids.”
CARE also offers an ice fishing class in January. “We hope to bring that class to AHM also,” said Grenier. “We enjoyed bringing the program to Hebron and would love to spread the word about our classes to other youth services throughout the state.”
For more information, go to http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp.
“I am a 21-year volunteer with the CARE program,” said Grenier. “I was the chief instructor for the class.” According to Grenier, CARE started in 1986, “and we've taught over 150,000 students about fish and fishing in Connecticut waters,” she said. “We teach about fish identification, tackle, terminology, knot-tying, rules and regulations, bait to use, sportsmanship, what you might catch and where to go fishing.” Classes are conducted all over Connecticut and are offered free of charge.
“It's a two-hour classroom program followed by a fishing trip,” said Grenier. The family program, geared toward children ages 7 and up, began on May 4 at AHM community center on Pendleton Drive. “We had almost 50 students and six CARE instructors,” said Grenier. According to AHM, 25 children and 22 adults attended the classroom portion of the program.
On Saturday, May 12, 13 children and 11 adults attended Field Day at the Hebron Sportsman Club. A group of volunteers from the Club, led by Richard Cray, joined CARE instructors for the field portion of the event.
“This was the first time that the DEEP teamed up on this project with AHM Youth and Family Services, but it will certainly not be the last,” said Grenier. “The overwhelming success of the recent Fishing School at AHM combined with the support of the Hebron Sportsman Club has everyone at DEEP very enthusiastic about bringing this program back again next year for local kids.”
CARE also offers an ice fishing class in January. “We hope to bring that class to AHM also,” said Grenier. “We enjoyed bringing the program to Hebron and would love to spread the word about our classes to other youth services throughout the state.”
For more information, go to http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp.