With help from local Wisconsin unions, labor councils and building trades councils, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Work Boots on the Ground ‘Take Kids Fishing Day’ events were held over the June 2-3 weekend in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Janesville and Madison. The events gave hundreds of Wisconsin children the chance to enjoy the thrill of baiting hooks, eating a picnic lunch, taking home prize giveaways – and reeling in some nice fish!
All fishing events were free and open to the public thanks to the generous volunteerism, sponsorship and support of the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the South Central Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, the Western Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, the Southern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council and the Greater West Central Area Labor Council.
Greg Erickson, a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 434 from Elk Mound helped organize events at Braun’s Bay in Eau Claire. “It was a great event,” said Erickson. “Everyone who showed up had a fun time and that was our goal. For me, the best part of the event was seeing the smiles and happiness on the kids’ faces. Young and old, everybody had a great time. Union volunteers get to show kids the benefits of fishing and have a great day on the water with our union family.”
For many of the kids who came out to fish, it was their first time holding a fishing rod or touching a fish. Union volunteers showed young people the ropes of fishing and how to be respectful of nature while enjoying Wisconsin’s beautiful outdoors. For many participants, access to fishing bait and gear would be hard to come by without the generous donations of local union members and labor councils.
Tyler Tubbs, President of the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, was baiting rods and tackles at Pettibone Park Lagoon on the Mississippi River in La Crosse when he emphasized that it’s important for kids to “put down the electronics and go outside and get fishing, be in the outdoors.” Tubbs continued, “It is awesome to see the excitement. It doesn’t matter how big a fish a kid reels in, they are super excited. This is a chance for unions to give back to their local community. This is what union workers do. We are part of the community. We lead, we give back, we pass on skills and work ethic to the next generation. It’s important for kids to realize unions are still out there and see union members active in the community. We’re all about the community that we live in.”
Take Kids Fishing Day is a great way to educate young people in the community on the benefits of fishing and spark a lifelong interest in the sport.
Dave Branson, Executive Director of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central was on hand at Tenney Park in Madison where over 205 kids signed up to learn how to fish!
“Take Kids Fishing Day is about helping kids at a young age learn to fish while building a healthy respect for the outdoors,” said Branson. “It’s union members getting out in the community and showing the community that we do so many things besides negotiating for wages. This event is family-centered, we get the kids and the parents out there. Union volunteers pass on skills and teach proper techniques so the next generation can enjoy the outdoors safely for years to come.”
Lola Anton, 10, of Madison caught her fish at Tenney Park on Saturday with the guidance of Jim Foye, Laborers 464.
“I’ve been fishing once or twice before but didn’t catch anything,” explained Lola. “This is my first fish. It was fun. I was really overwhelmed.” Lola had no problem baiting the worm and searching out a fish bed thanks to instruction from Jim Foye, a Take Kids Fishing Day volunteer with LIUNA Local 464 who offered up tips and tricks for getting the fish to bite.
“Helping kids catch their first fish and giving them an idea of how to go about it is a great life lesson,” said Foye.
Robert Potter, Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 19, was at Traxler Park in Janesville where 150 children attended the Take Kids Fishing event.
“It’s hard to explain the feeling when you see a kid catch their first fish,” said Potter. “Seeing kids who have never been fishing before get to experience their first catch is something else. The smiles on the faces make all the hard work worth it. And a lot of hard work goes into it – separating worms so each kid has their own pack, assembly fishing poles, organizing food and beverage for everyone – it is dedicated union men and women who believe in the conservation of outdoors and want to get others involved in the outdoors that make this great event possible.”
These free events are staffed entirely by volunteers from the labor community and are a prime example of the value of introducing youth and their families to a healthy, outdoor pastime and the value of union members in our communities. A union-made picnic lunch was provided.
For more pictures of events in La Crosse, Eau Claire, Janesville and Madison, click here.
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