Family Fishing: No Child Left Inside

Ice Fishing Classes: January classes designed to introduce you to the social, wintertime sport of ice fishing. This is an excellent program for families, scouts and youth organizations. Learn how to catch a big bass, pickerel or jumbo perch on a tip-up or jig pole before attending the Family Ice Fishing Derby or Ice Fishing Winter Festival (see below).

Family Ice Fishing Derby: January 25,2014—Breath in some of that fresh winter air to evade “cabin fever” by adding some outdoor adventure this winter with family and friends. Kids get a prize just for attending. The CARE Program will provide hands-on instruction, bait, and equipment to borrow. Check the CARE webpage for details as the date approaches.

Family Ice Fishing at No Child Left Inside® Winter Festival: February 1, 2014 — If you missed the Derby (above), you can still join us for an ice fishing adventure! Besides ice fishing, this festival will introduce you to a wide variety of outdoor winter activities.

Family Fishing Courses: Let Certified CARE Instructors teach you all you need to know to get started fishing with family and friends. First, meet for just two hours in the classroom to learn how to cast, identify your catch, select the right bait and tie a strong knot. Second, take those skills you’ve learned to the field where CARE Instructors will guide you and your family to success on a fishing trip to a local pond or lake!

Summer Fishing Classes: Certified CARE Instructors provide students with an interactive learning experience that concludes with a fishing trip! These July and August classes take place at summer camps across the state, and are free of charge. If you are a youth camp coordinator call the CARE Center for more information.

Fishing Courses at our Education Center: CARE provides all training materials. School teachers introduce lessons from our curriculum on water and aquatic life to their students. The curriculum meets several state science standards. Teachers, students, and homeschoolers are invited to visit our picturesque education center once the classroom component is completed. During the visit students will learn through hands-on activities and actually go fishing in our pond!

BECOMING A CARE INSTRUCTOR: Training offered in February —CARE needs volunteers from across the state to share their love of the outdoors and fishing with others. We’ll provide you with quality training and all the equipment you’ll need. If you’re a self-starter and are interested in enriching people’s lives with the sport of fishing, join the over 2,000 volunteers that have helped so far. Call the CARE Center TODAY for an application! Applicants must pass a State Police background check.

For more information or a CARE Class Schedule visit our website at: www.ct.gov/deep and enter “CARE” in the search box, or call Inland Fisheries at 860-424-FISH or the CARE Center at 860-663-1656.