Gone Fishin’

Warm weather is here, and it’s a grand time to take a break from planning and make some fun summer memories with your family. Due to the Covid-19 virus, many of the usual summer activities and events may not be taking place this year, so why not create some of your own family memories spending time in the great outdoors?

When my boys were little, my husband and I would take them down the road to our neighbor’s pond to fish and explore. I decided one day that they were too small to be messing around near the water without a life jacket. My husband rolled his eyes at the notion, but that did not stop me from taking a trip to the local Wal-Mart to buy two little life jackets. That same evening, we went fishing at the pond, with those boys wearing those life jackets! The younger of the two, around 3 years old at the time, was fishing with his Scooby-Doo pole and caught a snag. Determined yet careful, he went closer to the water, and sure enough, he fell in that pond headfirst! As I panicked, that little life jacket bobbed him right up to the top, my husband grabbed him, and soon he was on the bank safe and sound. What could have been a scary memory or even a disaster was avoided. My husband turned the fiasco into a fun memory we still laugh about when he playfully examined our sopping wet son and exclaimed, “I think I see a catfish in there!” For years we have revisited the story of the catfish in Eli’s throat.

Memory making in the great outdoors can involve many different activities. Consider gathering up some fishing gear and a picnic lunch and head out to explore. If you are unsure of where to find a “fishing hole” try contacting the Department of Natural Resources or a sporting goods store in your area. Check to see if a fishing license is required in your state before you go, and follow the guidelines required. Some states have free youth fishing days from time to time.

Consider bringing the learning home after your outing. Pond studies and underwater ecosystems are fun topics to learn about. Try using a cardboard box, construction paper and clay to create your own pond ecosystem model at home. Nature guides and field guides are good investments for a home library and are easy to carry along to help identify plants, trees, and insects. Appoint a certain bag or backpack as your “nature pack” and keep it in your vehicle or a designated spot near the door for impromptu nature visits.

Extend the study into a “theme week.” Read books about fish or fishing or enjoy storybooks such as One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss or Gone Fishing: Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger. Enjoy fish-shaped crackers for a snack, Swedish Fish candy as a treat, or teach cooking skills to an older child while trying a new seafood recipe – maybe even one from a different country or culture. Watch a fishing show, a nature show on pond or river life, or even a movie like “The Little Mermaid” or “Finding Nemo” just for fun with popcorn in a makeshift tent in your living room. Use your imagination and encourage your children to use theirs too. Enjoy God’s creation together and create some wonderful memories.

If fishing isn’t your thing, why not try a nature study? Round up some sketch pads and pencils for drawing new discoveries and head to an outdoor area where you can observe. Encourage your children to watch for birds, insects, plants, and animals. Talk about how we can use our senses to enjoy and explore nature. If you can identify the birds in your area, point those out to your. Make a game of it and challenge them to a game of “I Spy” to learn bird recognition. Engage your child’s sense of hearing by drawing attention to the song of a bird, the chirp of a cricket, or the croak of a frog. Let them see you take in a deep breath and enjoy the smell of fresh air. If you have wiggly littles, take that frog call a step further and play an impromptu game of leapfrog. Be sure to do it away from the water so they don’t accidentally fall in… and swallow a catfish! ~ Judy

Fun Fishing & Nature Resources:

Wish for a Fish • Grades PK-3

Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature • Grades PK-3

Fishing in the Air • Grades K-3

Freshwater Fishing • Grades 2-5

By Pond and River • Grades 3-5

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse • Grades 3-7

My First Field Guide • Grades K-5

Handbook of Nature Study • Grades PK-8

Nature Logs for Kids • Grades K-8

Outdoor School Series • Grades 5-9

Pocket Tutor Guides • Grades 5-AD