Local families enjoyed a beautiful morning of fishing at Westville Lake in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, June 18. Seventy-five parents and kids enjoyed learning to fish and all about water safety.
Held at the Westville Recreation Area Boat Ramp for the second year in a row, the event was a big success. Participants were able to catch and release fish from the Quinebaug River with the help of the Volunteer Park Hosts and Park Rangers. Anglers ranged from age 4 to 75.
Each participant was greeted individually and offered a loaner pole as well as shown how to bait their lines and to cast.
Park Rangers gave a safety briefing about specific water safety issues of fishing from shore and boats.
The Park Rangers also asked which children knew how to swim and then talked to them about how to stay safe in the water. After the briefing, the children were given water safety flying discs, activities books and floating key bobs. Fishing poles were borrowed from Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife for the day. Volunteer Park Hosts Maria and Dennis Dube, Ted Robbins, Patrick Shull, Sharon Clark, Brenda Goessling and Brian Phelps helped teach the younger participants to fish and served snacks and hot dogs. Park Rangers Jean Hixson and Glenna Vitello organized the free event.