James Island Elementary School’s Patrick Harrison recognized a new approach to getting kids outdoors in an afterschool setting. The retention pond near JI Elementary offered a perfect opportunity for the creation of the Fishing Club, now in its 6th year. The Fishing Club isn’t limited to the actual act of fishing only however. The students are held to a high level of behavior and school achievement, and throughout the Fishing Club session students are taught important elements of fishing, keeping a journal noting what they’ve learned throughout the process. “The rewards have been immense for me, the time spent with the kids,” Harrington said. “Kids come back from years ago and say the best thing they remember is the time we spent fishing.” Full story HERE.

I imagine other opportunities like this one are there for other schools and programs to tap into, it’s simply a matter of finding out what that might be and where to find it.