News Release Archive

Reclamation Schedules Seventh Annual C.A.S.T. For Kids at Millerton Lake

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 10/01/2007 17:56

For Release: October 01, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office (SCCAO), in cooperation with the national C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) for Kids Foundation, is hosting its seventh annual C.A.S.T for Kids event on Saturday, October 6, 2007, from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Grange Grove Pavilion located at the California State Parks - Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, in Friant, California. The C.A.S.T. Foundation encourages communities to provide disabled and disadvantaged children the opportunity to enjoy a quality outdoor recreational experience as well as increase the awareness of all participants regarding the capabilities of children with disabilities.

The event is a day of on-shore activities and fishing enjoyment that teams up boaters and 25 sponsoring agency and organizational volunteers with more than 30 returning C.A.S.T. for Kids participants and 50 youth selected this year from the Make-A-Wish Foundation Central California; Children's Hospital Central California; Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services; Center for Independent Living; San Joaquin River Intertribal Heritage Educational Corporation; Sierra Tribal Consortium, Inc.; Students Targeted with Opportunities for Prevention (S.T.O.P.) program; and Coordination Committee partners.

The day will begin with a hot pancake breakfast sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Old Town Clovis.  After breakfast, the 50 pre-registered children will receive a T-shirt and hat and free fishing gear before taking off for their boating and fishing experience at Millerton Lake.  The Fresno Bass Club, Kerman Bass Club, Sierra Bass Club, the California Striped Bass Association, Fresno Fishermen Helpers, and several individual boaters are donating the use of their boats and time for the day to teach the children about fishing and boating, and the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission is providing all on-site transportation for the event.

While the participating children are on the lake learning about boating and fishing, their families, friends, care givers, returning C.A.S.T. Alumni Kids, volunteers, and invited guests will be able to participate in more than 20 recreational, informational, and natural resource on-shore activities. To make this community event a success, Reclamation has support from more than 20 local area contributors and has also partnered with J's Communications; Fresno Discount Trophy; Mountain Toppers 4-Wheel Drive Club; RiverTree Volunteers; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Coast Guard; Sierra Foothill Conservancy; Kaiser Permanente; La Petite Academy; Fresno County Sheriff's Department; California Departments of Water Resources, Forestry and Fire Prevention, and Fish and Game; American Ambulance; California State Parks - Millerton Lake State Recreation Area; Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - Fresno Student Chapter; Jack and Jill of America, Inc. - Fresno Chapter; and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology.

After a morning of fishing and on-shore activities, lunch for all will be hosted and served by the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority and the Los Banos FFA. The day will conclude with closing ceremonies and awards presented to the participating children. Miss Regina Lee, Break the Barriers, and the Fresno High School Junior R.O.T.C. will be participating in the ceremony.

Anyone interested in becoming a "Special Thrill Maker" in the on-shore activities should contact Ms. Valerie Curley, SCCAO, at 559-487-5041 or vcurley@mp.usbr.gov. More information about the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation can be found at www.castforkids.org.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.