DOINews: Reclamation Central California Area Office Holds C.A.S.T. for Kids Event at Lake Berryessa

On Saturday, Oct. 13, 20 excited youngsters ages 5 to
15 participated in a C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) event at Lake Berryessa
in Napa, County, Calif. Pleasure Cove Marina hosted the event in conjunction
with the Bureau of Reclamation's Central California Area Office. Reclamation
thanks Pleasure Cove Marina for providing the site, the BBQ lunch and several of
the boats.

The children, all of whom have disabilities or disadvantages, gathered for a
wonderful day of outdoor fun. The children were first taught about water safety
before getting a chance to go fishing on a boat. For many, this was their first
time either fishing or boating. The kids loved getting their fishing equipment
and going out on the water (even though, unfortunately, very few fish were
actually caught!).

The event couldn't have taken place without the 11 boat
captains and the many wonderful sponsors and volunteers representing 23
organizations including the California Department of Fish and Game, CAL Fire,
the Napa County Sheriff's Department, Yolo Foster Care, Big Brothers - Big

Sisters, Foster Care of Solano County, C.A.S.A (Court Appointed Special
Advocate), Napa and Solano County Schools' Special Education Departments, Travis
Air Force Base, Monticello Ski Club, Fairfield Suisun Bass Reapers, and Best
Bass Tournaments.

Interpretive programs and events at Lake Berryessa tie into President Obama's
America's Great Outdoors initiative,
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,
vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come. Ranger-led activities also
support the Department of the Interior's Let's Move Outside initiative,
which encourages children and their families to enjoy outdoor activities that
abound in every city, town and community.

As part of the Let's Move Outside initiative, the participants were
given healthy snacks, information on nutrition and a balanced diet, and
encouraged to enjoy the outdoors and exercise 60 minutes a day. Organic Clif
Bars were provided for breakfast and as snacks for the children while on the
water. Clif Bar is a partner that has provided healthy snacks for this event for
several years. Turkey burgers were served for lunch instead of hamburgers or
hotdogs, fruit cups replaced potato chips, and water and Gatorade were served
rather than high-sugar soda/fruit juice.

By: Bureau of Reclamation
Oct. 30, 2012