NPAA Members Volunteer Their Time to Teach Western Minnesota 5th Graders About the Sport of Fishing
Category: npaa
Apr 8th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Apr 8th, 2014 at 12:00 AM
On Friday March 20, 2014 NPAA Member Nancy Koep # 323 and Dan Pfeifer # 916 along with other local fishing enthusiast took 89 Minnewaska Area Middle School 5th graders out on the lake for an afternoon of ice fishing. This was the final day for a 9 week course taught by Nancy called MN Aqua. The class was based around a science curriculum and included topics on: the six senses of fish and understanding the correlation between human sense and fish senses, fish identification, fin forms and their functions, fish identification, invasive species, pollution and more.
Nancy volunteered 3 hours of time every Wednesday, for 9 weeks. ‘We cover a lot of information in a short amount of time, and the kids are very interested in learning’, says Koep. During one of our weeks, the kids were able to take a break from learning and have some fun. Koep arranged for the kids to learn how to tie knots as well as make there own Troo Floo Hook and Spinner Bait. ‘The kids enjoyed this so much, it will be something that will be added to my program every year’ said Koep.
Before the kids went to the lake, local volunteers already had 125 holes drilled on the ice. Each student received their very own Berkley Cherry Wood Ice Fishing Combo when
they got to the lake that was all set up for them to start fishing. The students were separated by groups, each group had an adult helper with 3-4 kids in a group. There was also a few parents that joined in on the fun! Each student was taught how to set their bobber stop to allow for the best presentation of the bait. There were also a number of fish locating electronics on the ice. ‘The kids really enjoyed looking and learning how all the different electronics worked’, said Koep. There were different stations set up on the ice for the kids to check out the electronics and the teachers encouraged the kids to get to every station, especially if they have never used them before.
‘The number of kids who have never experienced ice fishing before is truly shocking’, said Koep, even with Lake Minnewaska right out our back door.
The kids truly had an unforgettable day on the ice with over 100 fish caught they were smiles all afternoon’. The weather could not have been better of a day on the ice. Many of the kids
were fishing in T-Shirts’. A few kids were having problems catching a fish, so their classmate that had already caught fish, let them fish in their hole, so they too could enjoy the experience of catching a fish.
This was the 3rd time that Nancy had to re-schedule her event due to the weather not cooperating. An extra special thanks to Stephen Picht # 514 and Brenda Picht # 513
who volunteered to help with this event the first two times, but were not able to help out the 3rd time. ‘They were driving down to Glenwood from Grand Rapids in very bad winter
weather, with icy road conditions. I had to call them and let them know that school got cancelled, and my event got cancelled. They were already in Brainerd’! I felt so bad, but appreciate all their help they gave me. Stephen and Brenda also visited my classroom and volunteered their time on another occasion. They taught the kids how to tie on slip bobbers,
explained casting, and showed them different types of lures and poles’, said Koep.
Thanks go out to all the sponsors of the class and day on the water for without their help this event would not be possible. Special thanks to the: NPAA, HSM Outdoors, Pure Fishing, Kruger Farms, Leena Lures, Sea Grant St. Croix Rods, and many more local clubs and organizations from Glenwood.