Dickinson County Nature Center to host fishing event
The Dickinson County Nature Center is reeling ‘em in.
They will be hosting a Family Fishing Night for their upcoming Family Nature Night at 5 p.m. Friday, May 19.
This free monthly event is typically held the fourth Friday of the month, but this month the date was changed due to the holiday. The event is geared toward encouraging families with children of all ages to explore nature and learn about a specific topic every month.
The event won’t take place at the Nature Center and will instead head to Westport Park, and they’ll be taking the whole family out for an evening of hands-on learning.
“We have all the basic equipment to get you started. We will have poles available to practice your casting skills. We have fishing poles, tackle, and bait for families to use,” said Jackie Jerge, the community relations coordinator with the nature center. “Anyone planning on holding a pole should come with a fishing license in hand to meet state regulations.”
The idea for the class stemmed from one of the employees at the Dickinson County Nature Center.
“Our naturalist Britney Snell has a passion for fishing. She has many fond memories as a child fishing with her family and would like each kid in Dickinson County to have at least one memorable fishing experience,” Jerge said.
One of the best things about fishing is that it can include the whole family — regardless of age.
“Fishing brings families together through a positive experience. It supports a strong familial bond, communicating and working together and removes the distractions of technology,” Jerge said. “Fishing is a lifelong skill, and you can pass it down through generations.”
It’s also a wonderful way to get kids out with their families and enjoying nature.
“I look forward to helping kids make connections with nature. The pure joy on their faces when they land a fish is priceless. There is so many emotions a person can go through in one hour of fishing; joy, disappointment, wonder and pride to be a few.” Jerge said.
But fishing is about so much more than just trying to land the next big one.
It’s about deepening a person’s understanding of nature and appreciating it.
“By experiencing fishing, you will learn to appreciate and understand aquatic habitats and their importance, a way to learn to be good stewards of the land and water,” Jerge said.