Daily Reporter staff reports
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Go FishIN program needs volunteers to share their love of fishing with children ages 5 to 17 during the Indiana State Fair.
The DNR will operate the Fishin’ Pond for its 14th year during the 2019 state fair, giving children the opportunity to fish for free. Parents may sign their kids up at the registration table. They and their children listen to a short talk about fishing safety, and then the kids can fish for up to 15 minutes.
After fishing, the whole family can learn more about Indiana fish through a coloring activity and playing with fishy friends. In 2018, more than 3,000 children fished at the pond, and for many of them, this was their first fishing experience. The program would not be such a success without the wonderful volunteers.
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Hundreds of people are needed to help during the 17 days of the fair. Volunteers get free admission to the fair, a free Fishing Pond T-shirt and the opportunity to fish with children for a few hours at the pond.
If touching worms, getting fishy, or standing in the sun isn’t quite your style, other volunteer opportunities are available. The pond has five volunteer stations requiring about 20 volunteers for each three-hour fishing session. Each station has different responsibilities:
Registration — help parents register their children and let them know where they need to go next.
Speaker — speak to kids and their parents about fish, fishing and the rules of the pond before the fishing begins.
Fishing — work directly with the children and their families around the pond; assist two or three kids at a time during their fishing experience and help bait hooks, cast the cane pole, catch fish and return fish to the water.
Equipment — tie knots to hooks and supply the fishing crew with ready-to-go cane poles.
Education — help children with hands-on, educational craft activities, which will be supplied; hand out take-home materials.
If you are interested in volunteering at the State Fair Fishing Pond, please apply to volunteer. The fair runs Aug. 2-18. Registration for 2019 will begin soon. If you need additional assistance or have questions, email [email protected].
