Reel Lines, Issue Number 11, January 2002 Page: 3
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El
Fishing for Smiles
DENISE HARMEL-GARZA, Extension
Associate-Conservation
" 11 "
4I
idIt was a hot July afternoon in East Texas
with temperatures reaching 100 degrees
in the shade. The humidity was oppres-
sive. It was three weeks into the five
week camping season at H. S. Estelle 4-H
and Youth Camp in Huntsville and I was
once again preparing a fishing class for
thirty-five 10 and 11 year-olds. It was the
last class of the day and I was tired. I
missed the cool air of the dining hall.
Where the youth assembled for class, one
young man peered at me through his
glasses and said he didn't think he would
like this "fishing thing." I smiled and said,AL
6
-
he can catch more fish and I can catch
more smiles.
Thanks to Texas Parks and Wildlife's Com-
munity Outdoor Outreach grant many
inner city minority youth went fishing this
past summer at the H.S. Estelle 4-H and
Youth camp.
The camp is run by the Cooperative Exten-
sion Program at Prairie View A&M Univer-
sity. It provides some kids with their first
experiences in the outdoors. It has vari-
ous species of trees, insects and other ani-
mals. And the five-acre lake is filled with
sunfish!Y'
More Smiles from Happy Anglers...
Photos by Mark Carpenter,
Boy Scouts, Camp Cherokeeh
- I -
Fish I.D
fun
Junior today.r.
Master tomorrowKnot tying:
a Boy Scout traditionJ
Even Santa likes to fish!
"we'll see." He was one of the 345 inner
city minority youth that attended this
camp.
After being taught the Palomar knot and
practicing his casting on backyard bass
targets, it was time to head to the pond.
My young doubter's enthusiasm had
increased. Knot tying went well. He felt
a sense of accomplishment since knot
tying is a very adult skill. Casting was
even better. Who would've thought he
would get to cast his very own rod and
reel? And if he held his mouth open just
right when he reeled in the casting plug,
he could catch one of those wily backyard
bass targets.
Overcoming the grossness of the
worms was his next big hurdle. Five
minutes after dropping the hook in
the pond, he let out a yell. He had
just caught his very first fish. He
turned to me whooping and holler-
ing, with a huge smile on his face. I
no longer felt the heat and the
humidity, just this young man's
enthusiasm. This was what the hard
work, hot days, and long hours were
about. I hope I see him next year so
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Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department. Angler Education Program. Reel Lines, Issue Number 11, January 2002, periodical, January 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth575786/m1/3/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.