Reeling in new skills

Camp Manitou partners with Fish Futures to bring new gear and skills to campers

This summer, Camp Manitou partnered with Fish Futures, a local non-profit dedicated to the conservation of freshwater fisheries, to elevate the fishing experience for the 3,000 campers who cast a line at camp each year.

“Fishing is a great healthy outlet for campers because it allows them to get outside and do something productive, and it’s a skill they can use throughout their whole lives,” said Noah Davidson, Programming Coordinator at Camp Manitou. “Sustainable fishing also teaches campers about the importance of renewable activities and being conscientious of the environment.”

Fish Futures provided on-site training with activity leaders, teaching the correct techniques for rigging a rod, casting, removing a hook from a fish and other tips and tricks with a focus on sustainable fishing. Along with training, Fish Futures donated brand new fishing gear and bait as well as prize packages for campers. Each week of summer camp, the camper who caught the biggest fish took home a new rod, net and tacklebox.

“The goal is to empower campers to further their fishing skills at home, hopefully giving them a fun and positive outlet for many years to come,” said Davidson.

Each week of summer camp, 300-plus campers between the ages of 6 and 13 tested their skills on the banks of the pond at Camp Manitou, making it quite the competition for the biggest catch. One of the winners was Avani, who reeled in a fish almost as big as her!

“I’m really excited,” said Avani about her new fishing gear. “I’ve really wanted fishing equipment like this for a long time.”

Other than learning valuable skills and spending time in nature, Davidson recognized how fishing is an accessible activity that a lot of campers can do outside of camp, especially for underserved youth who may not have access to recreational activities.

“Many of the underserved youth who come to camp are unable to participate in a lot of extracurricular activities due to the cost of entry, but fishing is a more accessible option,” said Davidson. “That’s why our partnership with Fish Futures makes so much sense, because we are serving similar demographics.”

Thanks to the partners and donors who support Camp Manitou’s subsidy program, camperships help cover the costs for non-profits and underserved individuals and schools, along with students from the True North Youth Foundation’s Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy.

“Thanks to partners like Fish Futures, youth, including many who may have few recreational opportunities in the summer, are able to attend Camp Manitou to learn, grow and have experiences they might not otherwise have been introduced to,” said Davidson. “It’s been fun to see campers developing new passions this summer, like fishing, and gaining new skills and confidence they can bring with them once they leave camp.”

To learn more about Camp Manitou and how to support underserved Manitoba youth through the True North Youth Foundation, visit campmanitou.mb.ca.