Fishing 101

The Talahi gym became the fishing pond as a group of volunteers from Simply Outdoor Experiences, a year-old St. Cloud group that works to interest young people in outdoors activities, taught the basics of fishing to schoolchildren.

Children cast with poles and could catch plastic fish and reel them in. They learned how to tie knots using rope looped through pieces of wood. They learned about habitat and things that could be used for bait.

"They are just giving the kids basic skills about fishing," Talahi physical education teacher Todd Robinson said.

Simply Outdoor Experiences is working with the city of St. Cloud Recreation Department. The recreation department got a $4,000 grant to put on the programs. Later this month, Simply Outdoor Experiences will be at Clearview Elementary School and North Junior High School.

"We want to get these kids out from behind the video games and computers," said Steve Krueger, a recreation programmer for St. Cloud.

Students Matthew Roberts and Thomas Friesen said they had a great time.

"I like how it teaches you to go outside and enjoy the outdoors," Friesen said.

Roberts said he had a great time casting and trying to catch the brightly colored plastic fish laying on the gym floor. He said he learned about recycling fishing line.

"I thought it was fun fishing," Roberts said.

Jim Russell and Woody Stankey are a pair of outdoor enthusiasts who volunteer their time to raise money and equipment to teach children about the great Minnesota outdoors.

"Our function is to put resources in front of kids so they can enjoy outdoor activities," Russell said.

Russell said he wants the children to pick up fishing and continue to do it and not just have it be a one-time thing.

Talahi has St. Cloud school district's highest percentage of low-income students. It also has a growing number of students who are new to the United States.

"Some of these kids have never touched a fishing rod; have never seen a squirrel; have never been in the woods," Russell said.