Planning a Fishing
Seminar for the Mentally and Physically Challenged By Kenneth L. Kieser
The phone call was simple, “Would you like to
help with our fishing seminar for kids and young adults?” I
accepted to facilitate my goal of involving kids in outdoor
activities.
“Our guests will all be physically and
mentally challenged,” was an added comment that made me
reconsider. Still, I decided to accept, even if it was a
decision made with reservations.
I attended several meetings conducted by
Easter Seals and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium
where the Chiefs play. Bud Epps, head trainer for the Chiefs
brought together a good team for this challenging, but rewarding
seminar. And by its end, I would find out just how rewarding and
receive quite an education.
The day for the event finally arrived. Bus
loads of kids and young adults in wheelchairs and braces were
helped on the gravel parking lot. We laid down four by four
plywood panels to make their passage through the grass possible.
Soon a caravan of challenged individuals wheeled down the ramp
to enjoy our displays, goodie bags, food and when possible,
fishing trips on pontoons. The day passed without incident and
many of us received hugs from several tired but happy attendees.
We made several thousand dollars for Easter
Seals through a bass tournament and auction during a three-year
period. Several major sponsors moved their money to other causes
and our program ended. We since have produced smaller versions
of this seminar with good success.
Many special moments happened during our
seminars. A father told us, “My son looks forward to his day of
fishing more than anything during the year.” Another parent
attending for the third year shook my hand and said, “My son
will not be here next year, thank you for giving him this
special time.” The boy died before Christmas.
There was one little girl who had spent the
first 10 years of life on her stomach and was physically unable
to lie on her back. Easter Seals volunteers asked if we could
somehow share our program with her. The following day, my
brother, Rodney and I carried a stretcher holding the girl to
each display. She giggled at a salamander, several crawfish,
night crawlers and goldfish on our live bait table. She
especially liked the shinny lures and fly-tying exhibits because
of the bright colors. She had a great time and so did we. I have
seldom used my time and efforts for a greater good.
Conducting a fishing seminar for the
physically and mentally challenged is not difficult, but special
precautions must be taken. Let’s look at how your club can
develop this type of program:
Understanding The Challenged
Mentally and physically challenged kids enjoy
simple pleasures. Don’t make this a day of competition. They
love to have fun, yet don’t always have the way or means to
enjoy outdoor activities like fishing. Those of us with healthy
bodies take for granted many things challenged people don’t
have, even simple functions like sweating.
Imagine never sweating. Many who live in
wheelchairs deal with this daily. Some paralyzed areas of the
body don’t sweat. Quadriplegics, for example, don’t sweat at
all. Too much exposure to the sun can bring on severe
dehydration and severe illness or even death. This problem can
be avoided by plenty of hydration and shelter from the sun.
Tournaments of this type should always be held
in the spring or fall when air temperatures are cooler. Cooler
days make it easier to control body temperatures. Easter Seals
or other organizations that deal with challenged individuals
will have specialists trained to deal with these special
problems. Make sure the organization you work with brings their
medically trained personnel at no charge to your event.
Hosting mentally challenged individuals around
water is another consideration. Many are excellent swimmers, but
don’t always count on it. Instead make sure volunteers capable
of pulling a heavy body out of the water are constantly watching
the shoreline. Mentally challenged boys or girls are curious
about the lake or pond like any other child.
We discovered that simplicity worked the best.
Basic stations of bait or lure displays and opportunities for a
pontoon ride or fishing was accepted and anticipated from year
to year. Mentally or physically challenged kids or young adults
don’t require much to be happy. Positive, friendly attention in
the world of fishing made a great day for all
involved—especially our committee.
Finally, smile and always be friendly.
Mentally challenged boys and girls are often afraid of
strangers. Some are only comfortable in their world, and
outsiders are seldom welcome. Medical personnel try to dispel
this thought process by including these special kids in events
that allow them to interact with strangers. Sometimes it works
and sometimes it does not. Never force the issue. Eventually
patience will win them over.
During the second and third year of our event
some of the other regulars and I were greeted by several kids
with a “Hi buddy,” and a tight hug that melted our hearts. Don’t
be misguided, many mentally challenged individuals have great
memories and some are probably much smarter than you or I. They
just approach the world differently. Other children’s minds seem
to be in another place, but they still fear strangers until that
person is recognized as a “buddy.”
Attractions
My job entailed setting up stations for the
kids and young adults to view. The most popular was live bait.
We used bass lures to show how each live critter was imitated.
The salamander and crawfish constantly required water sprinkled
throughout the day to maintain moistness. They were displayed in
an open jar that was unfortunately in direct sunlight. A shelter
house or tent would have been better.
Our fishing lure table exhibited different
types of lures, again in bright, shiny colors. We found that
removing hooks was important as it allowed kids to be able to
handle each lure. Some wanted to bite the lures, apparently
thinking they were some type of candy because of the shiny
colors. We used photos at the lure table to show what each
version imitated.
The Missouri Fly Fisherman’s Association set
up tables where colorful flies were tied. Some were made into
pins for shirts. Others were actual flies with bright feathers
and photos of the type of fish each fly attracted. Other photos
showed the types of insects a fly imitated. It is doubtful that
few of the attendees would ever have the dexterity to tie flies.
Yet this was an especially popular exhibit.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
set up a fine attraction by showing pictures of fish and other
lake or pond dwellers. Each child received a packet of photos
from the MDC. Chances are your local fish and game department
would provide the same service.
Food tents are always welcomed. We served
fried catfish, baked beans and French fries to the delight of
our guests. Make sure trained volunteers are always present to
deal with choking or other problems. Also be aware of special
diets and/or allergies some of these participants may have. Ask
specific questions about this beforehand.
Pontoons boats were extremely popular.
Individuals fished or just enjoyed a ride across the lake, a
first for many. Ball caps provided in each kid’s goodie bag were
required to keep the sun off. Sun block was just as important
and required, but some could not use it because of sensitive
skin. Easter Seals brought special ointments for these
individuals.
I strongly recommend volunteers who understand
the special problems that might arise on these boat rides. Each
challenged person will have a unique reaction to an unfamiliar
situation because they are used to structure and routine in
their lives.
Finally, make sure your ramps to the lake and
for boarding pontoons are secure and wide enough, because the
average wheelchair is between 30-36 inches. Pontoons must have
enough open space to allow a wheelchair to maneuver on board and
to the fishing or riding area.
Never use a seatbelt or harness that attaches
the child or young adult to the wheelchair. A chair overboard
will quickly sink to the bottom. Personal floatation devices
should be mandatory for everyone. Some attach a safety cord to
the watercraft and challenged person.
Bass boats are only recommended for special
individuals. Many mentally or physically challenged anglers will
be frightened by traveling fast in a boat whiles others may love
this adventure. The point is to remember not to frighten your
guests.
Where To Set Up
We conducted our seminars in the 1980s when
physically challenged ramps and other luxuries were less common.
Today almost all larger lakes have docks and ramps built for
wheelchairs or braces.
Shelter houses are equally important. We
rented tents and by the third year a shelter house was built.
Again, be conscious of the sidewalks or ramps that lead to the
shelter houses or other attractions. Asphalt often becomes slick
on rainy days, creating a hazard for those using crutches or
wheelchairs. Make sure you have enough volunteers to provide
aide when Mother Nature interferes.
Smaller facilities can suffice if you divide
individuals into groups. Some can ride pontoons while others
visit exhibits. Bringing in a set number of participants at
different times of day is another solution.
Fund Raising Bass Tournament & Auction
Most bass tournaments contribute to a good
cause. Our tournament provided a percentage of the profit to
Easter Seals, amounting to several thousand dollars in three
years. You would be surprised how many quality items can be
obtained for this type of non-profit auction. We received a lot
of sports memorabilia that was autographed by big name
celebrities from Kansas City and towns around the nation. Many
other valuable items were donated and auctioned for Easter
Seals.
Contacting An Organization
We worked with Easter Seals, a dedicated group
who welcomed the chance to give challenged individuals a day of
fishing or just a day outdoors.
Remember: make sure you ask important
questions to make your fishing seminar run smoothly. Leaders of
such groups will be able to tell you what is required,
information like diet requirements and the level of physical
exertion this special group of people can take.
Many organizations will welcome an angling program for the
challenged.
Check your government section of the phone book for other
organizations or independent living homes, a type of rehab
outpatient hospital for challenged patients.
You can find more information on conducting a challenged
tournament or event by checking the National Wild Turkey
Federation website: www.wheelinsportsman.org, where a
step-by-step instruction manual can be downloaded.
The phone call was simple, “Would you like to
help with our fishing seminar for kids and young adults?” I
accepted to facilitate my goal of involving kids in outdoor
activities.
girl who had spent the
first 10 years of life on her stomach and was physically unable
to lie on her back. Easter Seals volunteers asked if we could
somehow share our program with her. The following day, my
brother, Rodney and I carried a stretcher holding the girl to
each display. She giggled at a salamander, several crawfish,
night crawlers and goldfish on our live bait table. She
especially liked the shinny lures and fly-tying exhibits because
of the bright colors. She had a great time and so did we. I have
seldom used my time and efforts for a greater good.
should always be held
in the spring or fall when air temperatures are cooler. Cooler
days make it easier to control body temperatures. Easter Seals
or other organizations that deal with challenged individuals
will have specialists trained to deal with these special
problems. Make sure the organization you work with brings their
medically trained personnel at no charge to your event.
shiny colors. We found that
removing hooks was important as it allowed kids to be able to
handle each lure. Some wanted to bite the lures, apparently
thinking they were some type of candy because of the shiny
colors. We used photos at the lure table to show what each
version imitated.