MEET
ME AT THE LAKE is
a unique half-day festival-style FREE youth fishing
event open to the public and held at various local
city lakes throughout the year. This powerful
outreach program caters to urban kids and their
families who may not otherwise have access to viable
fishing opportunities. The Daniel Hernandez
Youth Foundation provides a large
team of volunteers who work tirelessly to prepare,
plan and operate each event to ensure that all
participants have a fun, memorable and safe day
of fishing.
Meet Me at the Lake events are successful
because:
- Catfish or trout are purchased and pre-stocked
by the foundation in the park waters a day in advance
of each event to ensure the greatest chance of catching
a fish.
- Rods and reels, hooks, line, and sinkers are available
for FREE on a “loaner” basis for each
child participant who doesn’t have their own
equipment.
- A wide variety of effective baits and tips on how
to use them are provided FREE of charge.
- Numerous volunteer anglers are on site and mingle
with the kids to offer fishing tips, outdoor education,
moral support, positive role modeling and encouragement.
- Volunteers prepare and serve a FREE lunch provided
to all participants and their families.
- Rare experiential opportunities are provided FREE
of charge for the kids such as hands-on nature exhibits
and police and fire equipment demonstrations.
- Generous sponsors provide fishing gear and other
great prizes that allow each event to end with FREE
raffle for the kids.
Typically, more than 250 youths and their families
participate at each Meet Me at the Lake event. For
the majority of these kids, it is their first experience
fishing. The face of a child who has just caught
their first fish is unforgettable. The heartfelt gratitude
of the parents, many with limited resources, is very
rewarding. The chance to offer their child a outdoor
experience, that just might change their life, is priceless.
Other meaningful activities are provided such as the
Aquarium of the Pacific’s Traveling Sea Habitat
where youths can see and touch live marine animals
and learn about personal environmental responsibility. Local
Fire and Police Departments provide firefighters, police
officers, vehicles and equipment to interact with youths
and give the kids a kindly perspective on authority. Various
other activity booths offer kids the chance to practice
their casting, knot tying, and learn more about our
local waters and the animals that live there. |
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