Angling Instruction for Youth
The Family & Youth Casting Call is an annual free event sponsored each spring by DOEE's Fisheries & Wildlife Division. DOEE provides fishing instruction, environmental education activities, and community resources to youth aged 15 and under and their families. Families can bring their own fishing equipment or youth may use the spin casting equipment provided by DOEE. DOEE also supplies bait and organizes volunteer fishing instructors to help youth participants learn the basics of catch-and-release fishing in a fun, supportive setting.
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This year’s event will take place along the banks of the Anacostia River in Anacostia Park, just outside of the Aquatic Resources Education Center and adjacent to the Skating Pavilion (see map). Additional directions are available on the National Park Service Anacostia Park website.
A selection of food and drinks will be available for purchase at a concession tent hosted by National Park Service during the event.
Registration
Sign up via the online registration form to secure a spot. Registration opens March 30, 2018 and will close on Friday, April 27 at 3:00 pm.
Registration is strongly recommended! Reservations hold fishing equipment for your child (aged 15 and younger) for a one hour period.
Adult volunteers are also needed to assist with angling instruction and education activities. Read more about the other environmental education activities below and register as a volunteer or education partner.
Additional Environmental Education Activities
The event also includes environmental education stations hosted by DOEE and local partnering organizations in the Family and Youth Casting Call Angler Adventures Education Tent. Activities include wildlife, watershed, and pollution awareness activities, casting practice, local boating and fishing club and camp information, and a variety of other hands-on and informative features. Every year the event attracts new partners that share our mission to connect youth and their families to nature through angling instruction and environmental education.
2018 event partners include: Anacostia Watershed Society, Bureau of Land Management, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Chesapeake Women Anglers, City Wildlife, DC Department of Public Works, FishingCommunity.Org, L.L. Bean, Live Like Jack Foundation, Living Classrooms Foundation DC, Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Environmental Protection, National Park Service, National Park Trust, Tilly’s Tyes, Trout Unlimited National Capital Chapter, Trout Unlimited Potomac-Patuxent Chapter, Trout Unlimited Tri-State Conservation & Fishing Camp, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Thank you to our 2017 partners! Alice Ferguson Foundation, ArtReach at THEARC, City Wildlife, DC Science Booster Club, LL Bean, Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Environmental Protection, National Park Service, National Park Trust, NatureBridge, PBS Kids Nature Cat, Tinkergarten, Trout Unlimited-National Capital Chapter, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Fishing in the District
Learn more about licensing requirements and fishing in the District.
