C.A.S.T. for Kids – Lake Wheeler

Join Us!

This is a C.A.S.T. for Kids event designed to provide children with special needs, ages 6-18, the opportunity to enjoy a quality outdoor recreational experience through the sport of fishing. Join us for an unforgettable morning of fishing, boating, 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 from ages 6-18. 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 Boater 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 to see if a child out of the suggested age limit can participate. Please note only one parent/guardian is guaranteed a boat ride. 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!

what to expect at a boating event

Event Details

Event Date:
Start Time: 9:30 am
Type of Event: Boating

Event Coordinator

Ashly Amador
lakewheeler@castforkids.org
(603) 930-1435
Joshua Amador
lakewheeler@castforkids.org
(812) 369-6787

Event Location Address

Lake Wheeler Park
6404 Lake Wheeler Road
Raleigh, NC 27603

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, preparing for and serving lunch, celebrating the children, clean up and more. For our boating events, Volunteer Boaters are needed to bring their boats and take the children and their parents/guardians fishing for 2-3 hours.

Pre-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!

“I am filled with gratitude that my son had the opportunity to experience this amazing adventure with C.A.S.T. I feel like it made him more of a man, which is something I can’t do for him as a single mother. For years, he has been asking to learn how to fish, and I had never been able to make that happen, until now. The event exceeded every expectation I had. The staff were incredibly welcoming, supportive, and patient, taking the time to teach him step by step. Everything my son needed was provided for him, from the fishing pole to the tackle box, bait, and more. To our delight, he was able to keep it all! This was a dream come true. Another memorable moment was when my son, who had never been on a motorized boat before, had the opportunity to experience it for the first time. Now, he’s talking about becoming a future boat captain! It’s incredible how one day can spark such big dreams. The event organizers went above and beyond by offering a delicious buffet, and to our surprise, each participant received a personalized plaque with their picture at the end of the day. It was such a heartwarming and unexpected gift.This event was far more than I could have hoped for, especially considering it was completely free for participants. I’m in awe of what C.A.S.T. does for these special children, and I can’t thank them enough for giving my son an experience that will stay with him forever. Thank you for your kindness and for creating memories that mean the world to us. - Parent of Participant, Lake Wheeler

Lake Wheeler participants
four participants at Lake Wheeler
Lake Wheeler group photo
child showing off fish at Lake Wheeler

Event Sponsors

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

Leith Honda Autopark – Cary, NC, GHS, Leith Volkswagen of Cary, Leith Nissan, Dressen Medical Supply, Little Tooth Co., Endurance Fence Solutions, LLC., Betts Tackle LTD, Joshua Amador, Phil Hawkins, In Memory of Michael Hoover, NC Grass Greetings, Buckhorn General Store, Lavish, Chick-Fil-A, The Ward Family, Joseph Zola, Jennifer and Matthew Smith, Jessica Costen, Robert Davis, Jim and Ellen Hagen, Parker and Rob Wright, Lauren Spector, Chris and Jennifer Shelton, Ginger Zola, Mandy Davis, Alex Schwab, Jeff Meiners, Micah Perdue, Starbucks – Holly Springs, Jersey Mikes – Holly Springs, Firehouse Subs – Southpark Village, Costco Apex
“It made my heart happy because helping the children feel included and valued was so rewarding. Seeing their joy brought me a deep sense of fulfillment. My favorite is the award ceremony, watching the excitement light up everyone’s faces.” - Shore Volunteer, Lake Wheeler

Registration Links