Casting a Line

On Wednesday, May 14th, 150 students from across D49 gathered at Homestead Regional Park for the annual Adapted Athletics Fishing Event to learn the basics of fishing.

“Fishing is a lifetime activity, and it's an activity that they can participate with their family. So being able to teach it here in a smaller setting with the support they would be able to go out to the community and know that there's ponds, there's fish out there, and they might have a love for it and want to continue doing that,” said Sarah Brockberg, Adaptive PE Teacher.

Led by Partners in PE, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Pikes Peak Flyfishers, participants rotated through knot tying, fish biology, casting, and live fish stations before finishing the day by fishing in the pond.

Bonnie Mendenhall, who launched this program in 2004, returned to volunteer and reflected on the joy of seeing students learn together: "It’s awesome to see general ed students helping—it makes such a difference."