A Day to Remember
By: Tammy Huffman
Park Ranger, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
On Saturday, June 9, 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted the first ever C.A.S.T for Kids event at Stockton Lake. The day was blessed with perfect weather, not a drop of rain! Upon my arrival at the Orleans Trail South Ramp, I was warmly greeted by fifteen boaters and twenty-five volunteers eagerly awaiting the day's events. I have never been more proud to be a part of the Stockton Project Corps of Engineers team as I was that day. Many of my fellow employees, most of them on their day off, worked diligently the entire day. I was truly humbled by all of those who volunteered their time to be a part of that special day.
By 8:45 a.m. twenty very excited special participants had arrived and paired up with their boaters. Smiles stretched ear to ear as the children were handed their tackle boxes and fishing poles. It seemed the children were more excited about learning to bait their hook with the donated worms than they were with the delicious donated Krispy Kremes they devoured. While the participants and boaters headed out to the water, volunteers traveled to the Stockton Day Use Shelter to set up for the BBQ and awards ceremony.
It is an amazing thing to see a child with their first catch. More amazing though, was to see how proud these volunteer fishermen were to have shared such a remarkable experience with their new little buddies. I'll never forget how proud one little boy was of his string of blue gill. I had to chuckle as one of the poor little fish on his line was no bigger than my small fist! As the boats rolled in to shore participants scurried to the shelter where the hot dogs were grilling and treats were overflowing. The best part of the day came when each of the volunteer boaters presented their new little buddies with a plaque featuring a picture of their special day. The sweetest words of joy and hope were spoken by the proud and humbled boaters. Every where I looked there were beaming smiles. I honestly could not tell you who benefited more from the day.
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