Outdoor Storytellers: Casting Kids
The program is all about hitting the bullseye but there’s no arrows, guns or darts. At a Casting Kids competition, all you’ll find are fishing rods and children.
“It really builds character and it gives these kids self-esteem,” ESPN’s Stacy Twiggs said. “And we all need to see our kids gain a little more self-esteem and become a little more confident in themselves.”
BASS started the Bassmaster Casting Kids program in 1991 and, since that time, they’ve awarded over $3.1 million dollars in college scholarships to the program’s participants. But it’s not just about the money.
“As a parent, it’s just great to watch,” Steve Wall, father of 2007 Casting Kids champion Jacob Wall, says. “Your kid can get involved in all different kinds of sports. Bass fishing is another one. It’s great to watch him as he develops in the sport, getting better and better, to see him interact with the other kids.”
Jacob agrees.
“I like meeting the other people,” he says. “I have a lot of friends that I’ve met [through Casting Kids].”
This competition between friends involves casting at targets 10, 20 and 30 feet away. BASS likens it to the NFL’s punt, pass and kick competition as they’re both youth-oriented programs designed to increase interest in their respective sports while providing kids with memorable experiences.
For more information on the Casting Kids program, click here
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