TROY, Ill. –Despite rain and intermittent thunderstorms, smiles stretched across Tri-Township Park as young anglers reeled in fish and created memories during the first Take Kids Fishing event hosted by International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council (DC) 58 and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) on May 16.
Held at the Water Duck Pond in Troy, the free community event welcomed local families and union members alike for a morning focused on getting kids outdoors and introducing them to fishing. Every child who attended caught fish, including bass, crappie and hand-sized bluegill, with one young angler landing a 2-pound bass.
“The best part was seeing the kids’ reactions when they caught fish,” said IUPAT DC 58 Director of Government Affairs Steve Wayland. “You could hear the excitement all around the lake. The smiles on their faces said everything.”
Union volunteers spent the morning helping children bait hooks, cast lines and learn the basics of fishing. By the end of the event, many kids were baiting their own hooks and eager to keep fishing.
Participants also received free rod-and-reel combos to take home, helping ensure the experience continues long after the event ended.
“When we handed the kids fishing poles and told them they got to keep them, they couldn’t believe it,” said IUPAT DC 58 Director of Servicing/Business Rep. Jonathan Elliott. “One little boy told us, ‘This is the best thing ever. I hope you guys do this all the time.’ Hearing that made the entire day worthwhile.”
One grandfather who stopped by the pond returned shortly after with three grandchildren after learning the event provided free fishing gear.
“They were absolutely elated,” Elliott said. “Moments like that remind you how important it is to give kids opportunities to get outdoors, spend time together and experience something new away from phones and tablets.”
Though rain showers moved through the area throughout the morning, families and volunteers stayed committed to making the event a success.
“The rain would stop, and everyone would start catching fish again,” Elliott said. “Some parents said the weather actually made it more comfortable because it wasn’t so hot.”
Half of the participating families were connected to IUPAT DC 58, while the other half came from the surrounding community, something Wayland said reflects their broader goal of strengthening community ties through positive experiences.
“We do a lot of outreach through our charitable efforts, but events like this help connect the community with the union members who are volunteering and making these opportunities possible,” Wayland said. “The USA was instrumental in helping us put this together, and we’re excited to continue growing events like this in other communities we serve.”
Organizers say the inaugural event served as a valuable learning experience and hope to expand future youth fishing opportunities throughout the region.
“We really appreciate Tri-Township Park for allowing us to host the event there, and we’re thankful for everything the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance did to help make the day possible,” Elliott said.
Take Kids Fishing events are part of USA’s flagship conservation program, Work Boots on the Ground, which organizes free, community-based youth outreach events nationwide. The program aims to connect families with the outdoors, teach conservation values, and inspire the next generation of anglers and environmental stewards.
Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA): The USA is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. For more information, visit www.unionsportsmen.org or connect on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
Work Boots on the Ground (WBG): WBG is the USA’s flagship conservation program that brings together union members willing to volunteer their time and expertise to conservation projects that improve and enhance public access to the outdoors, conserve wildlife habitat, restore America’s parks and mentor youth in the outdoors. The USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program works closely with federal, state and local agencies and other conservation groups to provide manpower needed to complete critical projects that may otherwise go undone.
