TAZEWELL, TENN. (RFD News) — A Tennessee 4-H camp is teaching kids more than just how to fish. It’s giving them a better understanding of nature and conservation.
At the Angler Adventures Camp, about 70 youth gathered at Dilliard Pond in Greene County to learn the basics of fishing, identify aquatic species and explore how to care for natural resources.
For campers like Tucker Wyatt, the lessons come with experience. By mid-morning, he had already reeled in his seventh rainbow trout.
“You’ve got to have patience for it. You’ve got to have the right lure at the right time, right place. And don’t get down on yourself if you’re not catching anything because, who knows, maybe if you switch something, things may play out for you.”
The camp encourages kids to unplug, trading screens for rods and reels.
Beyond fishing, participants also study aquatic habitats and why protecting lakes, rivers and streams matters for the future of the sport.
Some of the fish caught during the day were released back into the pond, while others were used for a camp-ending fish fry.
Amber Bilderback with UT Extension helps organize the camp and says fishing often becomes a shared family experience.
“Some of the conversations we have with these kids, they’re talking about how they started. Maybe my grandpa or my father, or, you know, my mom. I fish with my mom. They’re talking about what they do, and oh, my dad really likes that bait. So, it is a very family-based activity.”
Campers also got a chance to see a “shock boat” demonstration, where a harmless electrical current is used to temporarily stun fish so they can be identified and studied.
Organizers say the goal is to help kids enjoy time outdoors while learning how to protect it.
