On June 8, a partnership of theВ U.S. Forest Service and Division of Wildlife Resources with the help ofВ private sponsors and donors hosted a Special Needs fishing dayВ at the Gigliotti Pond in Helper.
The event was attended byВ approximately 130 persons. Among them were aboutВ 65В persons with disabilities, most of whom attended the Castle Valley Center in Price. The Castle Valley Center serves the educational needs of children and adults in Castle Country. Others included clientele from Active Re-Entry, which is a community-based program to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain self-sufficient and productive lives.
Those who had difficulty fishing were assisted byВ the staff of the Castle Valley Center as well as personnel fromВ host agencies.
The day was sunny and comfortable. Fishing was excellent with most persons catching at least one fish. Many took home two fish, which consisted of both rainbow and albino trout. The atmosphere was full of excitement with the shouts and screams of children as fish were hooked and reeled inВ from all sides of the pond.
At noon, the U.S. Forest Service served hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. After lunch, children and youth received tackle boxes as gifts. The fishing event was fun and rewarding for everyone involved.