By Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator York County
On a hot, humid Saturday afternoon in September, anglers of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed the camaraderie, education and even a little competition at the Second Annual Youth & Family Fishing & Conservation Day held along the Codorus Creek at Foundry Park in downtown York.
On a hot, humid Saturday afternoon in September, anglers of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed the camaraderie, education and even a little competition at the Second Annual Youth & Family Fishing & Conservation Day held along the Codorus Creek at Foundry Park in downtown York.
Approximately 150 youth and adults eagerly dropped their fishing lines into the Codorus Creek in hopes of reeling in a prized catch.
The goal of the event was to not only introduce youth to fishing, but to also teach them about conserving and protecting the waterway meandering through the city.
The Master Watershed Stewards in York County partnered with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, the Mid-Atlantic Youth Angler & Outdoor Partners and The Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County to offer this outdoor conservation experience.
Program partners and volunteers assisted youth with baiting hooks and casting lines. They also demonstrated proper spin casting and fly fishing techniques.
Volunteers provided educational activities including a close-up look at macroinvertebrates lurking in the stones and leaves in the creek, a hands-on introduction to watersheds and pollution, a fishing activity to promote aquatic invasive species awareness and more.
The Penn State Nittany Lion even stopped by to cast a line and of course, posed for pictures.
Four youth anglers went home with prizes for the first fish, most fish, largest and smallest fish caught. It was a rewarding experience for everyone!
Educating and introducing urban youth to the sport of fishing, a sport they may not have experience with, leads to a greater appreciation for the waterway and the wildlife in and around the stream.
The once heavily polluted Codorus Creek has benefited from many conservation efforts in the last 20 years. With continued education and hands-on experiences like this, today’s youth will help protect it in the years to come!
Thank you to the York County Community Foundation’s Codorus Watershed Fund for the grant funding that made this event possible.
For more information on this program and others, visit the Master Watershed Stewards in York County webpage.
Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program are now operating in Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Wyoming and York counties.
To learn more about the program in your county or if you are interested in starting one, visit the Master Watershed Steward Program webpage. Questions can be directed to Erin Frederick at 610-391-9840 or send email to: elf145@psu.edu.
(Reprinted from the Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)
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[Posted: October 29, 2019] www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com
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