The Bureau of Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office (SCCAO), in cooperation with the national Catch A Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.) for Kids Foundation, is hosting its eighth annual C.A.S.T. for Kids event on Saturday, October 4, 2008, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the California State Parks - Millerton Lake State Recreation Area in Friant, CA. The C.A.S.T. Foundation encourages communities to provide disabled and disadvantaged children with a quality outdoor recreational experience while increasing participants' awareness of the capabilities of children with disabilities.

The day of fishing and on-shore activities teams up boaters and volunteers with returning C.A.S.T. participants and 50 children 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., and Merced County Office of Education.

The day will begin with a continental breakfast, and the children will receive free fishing gear, a T-shirt, and a hat before taking off for their fishing experience. The Fresno, Kerman, and Sierra Bass Clubs; California Striped Bass Association; and individual boaters are donating the use of their boats and time to teach the children about boating and fishing.

While the children are fishing, their families, friends, care givers, returning C.A.S.T. Alumni Kids, volunteers, and invited guests will participate in recreational, informational, and natural resource on-shore activities. To make this event happen, Reclamation has support from local area contributors and has partnered with the Center for Independent Living, J's Communications, RiverTree Volunteers, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, La Petite Academy, Kaiser Permanente, Fresno County Sheriff's Department, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, American Ambulance, California State Parks - Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, California Department of Fish and Game, and California Department of Boating and Waterways.

Lunch will be hosted and served by the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority and the Los Banos Future Farmers of America. The day will end with a closing ceremony and awards presentation. The Fresno High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will participate in the ceremony.

Please contact Ms. Elizabeth Lampkin, C.A.S.T. Foundation, at 559-443-9789 if interested in helping with the on-shore activities. For questions, please contact Ms. Valerie Curley, SCCAO, at 559-487-5041 or e-mail vcurley@mp.usbr.gov. More information about the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation may be found at www.castforkids.org.