Kids Fishing Days bring out families
SAXONBURG — With summer events across Butler County canceled due to concerns for COVID-19, organizers of Concordia Lutheran Ministries annual Fishing Derby for Kids decided to get creative.
Rather than host a one-day event that typically attracts 600 to 800 people to the small lake at Saxony Farm Estates, organizers broke this year's event up into three consecutive weekends — changing the name to Kids Fishing Days.
The final Saturday for the free community event will be Aug. 1.
“We wanted to keep this (event) alive. It's something we do for the community,” said Frank Scrip, Concordia's director of public relations. “This is a very scaled-down version.”
With advance registration encouraged, each Saturday event is divided into two sessions to limit the number of participants. Scrip estimated that Saturday's event had more than 100 youths between the two sessions.
“I thought it was amazing,” said Alyssa Salasky, 7, of Butler, proudly adding that she caught 12 fish and also won a fishing pole in a raffle.For Justin Ross and his family, of Butler, it was a welcome break. He spent the day tending lines and unhooking fish for his two daughters, Emma, 7, and Brooklyn, 4.“With everything going on it's nice to get out of the house,” Ross said, citing the lack of family friendly events this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.In the closing minutes of the fishing session, Ross' wife, Amanda, was leading the family fish count with five caught. Their 4-year-old-daughter, Brooklyn, was one behind with four. Emma said she caught two, “I think.”The conclusion to the three-week catch-and-release event will be this Saturday. Registration is available on Concordia's website, with choice of either a morning or afternoon session.Organizers will once again provide food, drinks and door prizes. The event is free.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own fishing rod, but organizers will also provide rods if needed. Bait also will be supplied.Each two-hour session will be capped at 100 people, with participants encouraged to engage in social distancing practices and spread out around the lake.Organizers ask families to limit the number of adult chaperones in each group in order to accommodate more children.For Justin Ross and his family, of Butler, it was a welcome break. He spent the day tending lines and unhooking fish for his two daughters, Emma, 7, and Brooklyn, 4.“With everything going on it's nice to get out of the house,” Ross said, citing the lack of family friendly events this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.In the closing minutes of the fishing session, Ross' wife, Amanda, was leading the family fish count with five caught. Their 4-year-old-daughter, Brooklyn, was one behind with four. Emma said she caught two, “I think.”
The conclusion to the three-week catch-and-release event will be this Saturday. Registration is available on Concordia's website, with choice of either a morning or afternoon session.Organizers will once again provide food, drinks and door prizes. The event is free.Guests are encouraged to bring their own fishing rod, but organizers will also provide rods if needed. Bait also will be supplied.Each two-hour session will be capped at 100 people, with participants encouraged to engage in social distancing practices and spread out around the lake.Organizers ask families to limit the number of adult chaperones in each group in order to accommodate more children.
