C.A.S.T. for Kids – Carolina Hatchery

04/19/2026

Join Us!

This is a C.A.S.T. for Kids event designed to provide children with special needs (minimum age 6) the opportunity to enjoy a quality outdoor recreational experience through the sport of fishing. Join us for an unforgettable morning of fishing and celebrating amazing children! Choose how you’d like to register.

What to Expect at a C.A.S.T. Event

C.A.S.T. for Kids events are designed for children with special needs. Events are free for children to attend, and all children leave with their very own fishing equipment! Children must be accompanied by their parent/guardian for the ENTIRE event.

Upon arrival, please check in at the event registration table. You and your child will be paired with a volunteer for approximately 2-3 hours of fishing. The fishing is followed by lunch for everyone and an awards ceremony for the children. A day of joy and celebration for all!

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Contact the event coordinator with any questions or to see if a child out of the suggested age limit can participate. Once registered, event details will be sent to you via email and text within two weeks prior to the event day.

We look forward to fishing with you!

Event Details

Event Date: 04/19/2026
Start Time:9:00 am
Event Type: Shore

Event Coordinator:

Ben Marcus
carolinahatchery@castforkids.org
203-216-8510
Josh Marcus
carolinahatchery@castforkids.org
(475) 239-9188

Event Address

Carolina Trout Hatchery
15 Old Richmond Town House Rd
Richmond, RI 02812

Click for Directions

Volunteer Information

Anyone with a heart to serve children with special needs is invited to volunteer! Fishing experience is not required. On average, volunteers serve 6 hours the day of the event. Shore Volunteers are needed to assist with set-up and organization, registration and sign-in process, photo process, fishing with children, preparing for and serving lunch, celebrating the children, clean up and more.

Registration is required. All volunteers 13-17 years of age must have a registration form completed by parent/guardian.  Our 13–15 year-old volunteers must have either a parent or guardian on site. We ask that all volunteers’ children aged 12 and under stay at home so that our volunteers can give their undivided attention to our event participants.

Contact the event coordinator with any questions. Once registered, event details will be sent to you via email and text within two weeks prior to the event day. We look forward to serving with you!

Donate Today

Your financial support provides opportunities for children with special needs and their families to experience a day of fishing and brings a community together. Local donations along with the Foundation’s financial support provide everything needed for this special experience. We would love for you to get involved and see the impact your financial gift makes. Volunteers are needed at every C.A.S.T. for Kids event, and although we do this for the children, often we are the ones who experience the greatest joy!

"My son had no interest in attending this event, although he's been fishing before. Even once we arrived, he needed some coaxing. He usually speaks in one- or two-word utterances and needs prompting to speak in full sentences. For example, he might say "fishing". I'd have to ask him questions to elicit a more detailed response. "What about fishing? Did you go fishing? Do you like fishing? Did you catch a fish?", etc. After participating in this event, he asked to go fishing and talked about his experience, using strings of connected words that made sense. He has difficulty with the concepts of time and location. On the way home he talked about what he did, using the past tense. He talked about the volunteer who helped him and how he wants to fish with him again in the future. He uses the tackle box you gave him every day. It's now his new lunch box." - Parent of Participant, Carolina Hatchery

cast volunteers with participants
cast participants and volunteers
CAST participants
a kid looking at a fish

Event Gallery

Check out previous images from this event!

Event Sponsors

We sincerely thank all our sponsors who make this C.A.S.T. for Kids event possible!

Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers, Fish R.I., State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Rhode Island Fish & Wildlife
"The organizers and volunteers were amazing as was the participants' response to the event. Seemed exceptionally well organized and executed. My most memorable moment from the event was the excitement on the kids' faces when they caught a fish and then when they received their award." - Shore Volunteer, Carolina Hatchery

Registration Links