Kids get "reel" outdoor experience thanks to local foundation

C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation hosted their annual fishing event this Saturday and the kids could not have been happier. The organization allows children to experience the outdoors through fishing.

They provide all the materials they need for a day out on Lake Waco. Each participant gets a rod, tackle box, bait, a t-shirt and a hat.

A mother of a participant, Sarah Stogsdill, says her son has been coming to this event for the last two years and since then he has developed a passion for fishing.

"It's great not only for the experience but also being able to fish with other children that have similar needs and not having the pressure of performance and what not, it boosts confidence in them," Stogsdil said.

After seeing her son's passion for fishing develop, Stogsdill was motivated to get a fishing license. In this way, she can take her son fishing whenever he wanted.

The Western Program Director for the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, Jim Behnken, says getting families to go outdoors on their own is the goal for this event.

"What would swell my heart the most is next week is seeing these families out here with a picnic fishing together. We are about getting families together in the outdoors," Behnken said.

This event does not only mean the world to the kids and their parents but also to the volunteers.

"The take away is just enjoying the kids and teaching them that the outdoors is fun and teaching them somethings they didn't think they could do and hopefully give them the drive to come out again and again and develop a love for outdoors and fishing," volunteer Jack Campbell said.

KWTX News 10 is proud to be a media sponsor and supporter of this annual event.