Fishing Derby Success - Thank You
Rob R. Hathaway (hathaway@IW.NET)
Fri, 31 May 1996 00:54:53 -0500
Last month I asked the list for ideas and suggestions on
how to stage our Pack's first Fishing Derby, and I'd
like to thank you all for our great success. This is
likely to become an annual feature of our program.
I had dozens of responses, mostly private e-mail, (lurkers
take note: this maillist is like an iceberg, you can't see
much of it unless you jump in).
I wish I had kept all the responses and could thank you each
and credit you specifically for ideas, but I lacked that
much foresight. Here's a brief overview of how we ran
the competition which was my primary concern.
We limited the actual competition to 90 minutes. Boys and
guests could fish before and after that time, but judges
were done after the 90 minutes and could relax. We included
Cub Scouts and 1st grade boys who had been invited as our
guests. Every boy got a standard 'DO YOUR BEST' blue ribbon
as he registered. I was prepared to present a variety of
award certificates, thanks to your ideas, regardless of whether
anybody actually caught anything.
The standard award was for EXPERIENCED FISHERMAN. Youths
who actually caught something got OUTSTANDING FISHERMAN.
Everyone got one of these two certificates.
Over and above that, by den, I presented certificates for FIRST FISH,
MOST FISH, and BIGGEST fish. A boy could only win one of these, if
he earned both MOST and BIGGEST, he got the higher award for
BIGGEST fish, and the award for MOST fish went to the second place
fisherman in his den. We didn't do Pack wide awards here, but may
in the future.
Lastly, special awards were given for BEST FISH STORY and
CATCH OF THE DAY. By design, and luck, these went to EXPERIENCED
FISHERMAN honorees mostly, I don't believe anyone went home with only
one certificate. Best Fish Story is probably self explanatory.
Excitement and 'brag' levels were so high we could have given out a
lot more of these. Catch of the Day awards, (thanks for the idea Mike),
went to 2 cubs who hooked their Dads, one Cub who only managed to hook
the bottom of the lake, one scout who spent his time trying to snag a
dead fish and succeeded, and one scout who caught a 9-inch Rainbow
Trout. I would have been less surprised to see a tuna hauled out of that
still, murky, and warm city pond.
We had 16 participants, out of our 19 registered cubs which is a great
turnout for us in May. Other than the trout, the boys caught lots and
lots of bullhead catfish ranging in size from 4.5 to 12 inches. We
supplied worms and snacks. Squemish moms, (sorry... I mean parents),
were happily assigned the task of manning the handwashing station and
guarding the food from grimey hands. Fun was had by all and not a dis-
couraging word was heard.
Again, my thanks, YIS
Rob Roy Hathaway, CM Pack 45
Sioux Council, Sioux Falls, SD
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
