From Soils Surveys to Perch Fishing on the Chippewa NF
Cass Lake Kids Perching Fishing Contest!
Chippewa employee helps out with the Cass Lake Kids Perch Fishing contest.
Ask an employee on the Chippewa National Forest to describe their jobs, and you will definitely hear one word…..diverse! Recreation employees have been tracking ski trails and then traveling over to the local Sport and Travel shows in Forest communities. Public Affairs staff are building new web sites, filling maple syrup tap permits and scheduling programs for scout troops. It's easy to tie most back to the More Kids in the Woods theme. And one of the more recent interesting job combinations is our Forest soils scientist heading out on the lake ice to bait hooks at the local kid's Perch Fishing Contest!
On March 14, soils scientist Jim Barrot volunteered to help out with the Cass Lake Kids Perch Fishing contest. Cass Lake businesses sponsor this annual event which brings in hundreds of kids from the local community. Kids register at the site, and receive ice fishing poles and bait, and head out to fishing holes already augered through the ice.
Dean Phillip's of Froggy's Bait, looks forward to the event each year. "It's really about the kids, teaching them how fun it can be to catch a fish. We really want to get the community involved and appreciate everyone who participates." Along with 200 smiling kids, Barott was having fun too. "It was a beautiful day out on the ice….sunshine and almost 40 degrees. We couldn't have asked for a better winter day outdoors! And the kids did catch perch!"
Forest employees can be proud of their efforts to get more kids outdoors this winter! With the help of the Junior Snow Ranger Program and the Winter Feels Good resources, the Forest has put together some great programs this winter. From Deer River District hosting a full day of cross-country skiing on the Cut Foot Sioux area trails (including a candlelight ski to end the day) to family days of sledding and snowshoeing at Shingobee Hills, the perch contest was another perfect way to celebrate winter in northern Minnesota!