News Release Archive

`C.A.S.T. for Kids' Displays Healthy Lifestyles for Young Anglers at Reclamation's 12th Annual Event at Lake Mead

Media Contact: Colleen Dwyer , 702.293.8420, cdwyer@usbr.gov
Steve León , 702.293.8456, sleon@usbr.gov

For Release: October 01, 2010

`C.A.S.T. for Kids' Displays Healthy Lifestyles for Young Anglers at Reclamation's 12th Annual Event at Lake Mead The latest in a series of Let's Move Outside events designed to promote outdoor recreation as a way of solving the problem of childhood obesity

Southern Nevada volunteers are once again combining their efforts to host the annual C.A.S.T. (Catch a Special Thrill) for Kids event for disabled and disadvantaged participants.

Those who have participated in the C.A.S.T. event previously know those who will come for the first time will learn, there is something special about outdoors recreation. Volunteers also receive a large dose of "warm and fuzzy" from assisting a group of about 40 disabled and disadvantaged individuals while they are fishing at Lake Mead. The Lower Colorado Region's C.A.S.T event is one of three Reclamation events included in the Department of the Interior's Let's Move Outside initiative to encourage healthy lifestyles and outdoor activity. Let's Move Outside programs and activities engage young people from all backgrounds in a range of educational programs and self-guided activities utilizing America's Great Outdoors.

"Being selected as part of this initiative is a big plus for the Lake Mead event and the national program," said Event Coordinator Phil Aurit. "This year we'll strive to couple the fishing experience with healthy eating choices and an expanded emphasis on recycling."

C.A.S.T. for Kids is a water-recreation event that provides children, with disabilities or disadvantaged, a day for an on-the-water fishing experience they may not have had before.

The Event This year's event will be on Saturday, October 2, at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor at Lake Mead's Hemenway Harbor, starting at 8 a.m. and will conclude at 1 p.m.

Among the guests attending this year's event will be Lisa Young, Director of Take Pride in America, to help promote C.A.S.T. as a way to demonstrate "Pride in America." Additionally, Jim Owens, C.A.S.T. Foundation Executive Director, will attend to help spread the message of fishing as an experience that helps broaden the horizons of youngsters who may see limited horizons due to an illness, disability or economic restrictions.

There will also be a special guest appearance by "Coastie," the robotic tugboat and mascot of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Let's Move and Let's Move Outside Let's Move Outside (LMO) is an integral component of the First Lady's Let's Move campaign to solve childhood obesity within a generation. For more information, please visit: http://www.letsmove.gov.

Let's Move Outside and Reclamation As part of its participation in Let's Move Outside, Reclamation has updated its long-standing relationship with the C.A.S.T. Foundation to promote the health benefits of physical activity and fishing for disabled and disadvantaged youth around the country. Upwards of 1,000 kids each year are able to engage in hands-on fishing activities at 30 different Reclamation sites through C.A.S.T.

For more information, please visit http://www.letsmove.gov/letsmoveoutside.php. or http://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.