News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces C.A.S.T. for Kids Event at New Melones Lake on Saturday, Oct. 11

Deadline to register a child is Monday, Sept. 29

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: September 19, 2014

SONORA, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office will hold a C.A.S.T. (Catch a Special Thrill) for Kids event on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Melones Lake’s Glory Hole Recreation Area. New Melones Lake is located in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, approximately 60 miles east of Stockton, Calif.

C.A.S.T. for Kids events “team up” sponsors and anglers with special needs children for a day of fishing enjoyment. Disabled and disadvantaged children ages 5 to16 years may participate in this fun and educational annual activity free of charge.

This children’s fishing event, begun in 1992 by Reclamation staff, was combined with the C.A.S.T. Foundation in 2003 to offer increased outdoor recreational opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged children. At this year’s event, each child will receive a free fishing rod and reel, bait and tackle equipment, and instruction. Environmental exhibits, displays and activities will be offered. The morning will culminate with a nutritious free BBQ lunch provided by The Messengers Motorcycle Club.

For additional information, to participate as a volunteer, to contribute support, or to register a child for this event, please contact New Melones Park Ranger Cynthia Watson at creppond@usbr.gov or 209-536-9094, ext. 217. The registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 29.

The event ties into President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/, which seeks to empower Americans to share in the responsibility to conserve, restore and provide better access to our lands and waters and leave a healthy and vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come. It also supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside initiative, http://www.letsmove.gov/lets-move-outside. The First Lady’s goal is to solve the problem of childhood obesity by encouraging children to increase physical activity on America’s public lands and waterways and by eating healthier.

For information on the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, please visit http://www.castforkids.org.

For information on New Melones Lake, please call 209-536-9094, ext. 0 (TTY 800-877-8339); stop by the New Melones Lake Administration Office, 6850 Studhorse Flat Road, Sonora, CA 95370, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; or visit the website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/.

# # #

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.