Volunteer’s Event Details:

Thank you for volunteering with the C.A.S.T. for Kids! We are honored and excited you have chosen to volunteer with C.A.S.T. to enrich the lives of children with special needs. Get ready to celebrate!

If your plans have changed and you are no longer able to volunteer, please let us know as soon as possible. No-shows and last-minute cancellations have a great effect on pre-event planning and event day. Notice of cancellations allows us to be able to recruit other volunteers to help provide the best experience possible for each child.

Event Location:

McCabe Park
Jerry Baker Lane
Mountain Home, AR 72653

Event Coordinator Contact:

Event Specific Details:

Parking: Be aware of parking spots available. Leave handicap spaces and any spots closest to the registration area open for children and their families.

Important Information:

• All volunteers must check-in at the Registration area and must attend a mandatory safety meeting.
• Please be on time. If you do not have GPS access for directions, please contact the Event Coordinator. Detailed driving directions can be supplied verbally or via email.
• Bring: A smile, sunglasses, and appropriate outdoor apparel for the weather. Be prepared to fish rain or shine.
• Each Child Fishing Participant must have a parent or guardian accompany them for the entire event, including restroom visits. No exceptions. Separation for any length of time is not permitted. Volunteers are never to be with a child without a parent or guardian there. 
• Please leave any children under the age of 12 at home to ensure you can give your full attention to registered participants and their families. 
• If you registered a minor as a volunteer make sure they are prepped for basic, proper event day etiquette. Their impact will make a difference. They will be remembered.
• Special needs vary widely. Some are visible, some are invisible. Every participant is to be treated with respect. Remember that some children will be more interested in fishing than others, some will want to learn basic techniques, some will just want to be present, some will have to overcome factors just to be able to arrive at the event. Keep it simple. This is not a tournament. There is no competition. Remember when you were young, and fishing was just fun!
• One-on-one fishing with a child participant and their guests requires basic fishing knowledge. Fishing volunteers should know how to tie knots and how to safely and comfortably handle hooks, bait and fish. A patient, open mind with a good attitude to provide positive reinforcement and celebration is helpful.
• Child fishing participants each receive the following items to keep: a hat and t-shirt to wear, a Zebco push button rod/reel combo, a Flambeau tackle box and a photo award plaque. 
• Please reach out to the Event Coordinator if you have any questions about gear or bait being used or needed. You are welcome to use your own fishing gear to hook fish and hand-off to participants to reel in. 
• Lunch is provided. Plan to stay for lunch and the awards celebration. Your participation is needed to celebrate and honor each child as they receive their award plaque.
• Fishing Volunteers and Boat Captains will often speak alongside their child participant at the awards.
• After the event you will be emailed a survey to take. Survey results help us make events better and in turn help enable us to reach more children. Your individual stories, feedback and experiences are invaluable to us. We would love to hear back from you.

Shore Volunteers:

Itinerary:

8:00 am – Volunteer Arrival: Check In, Set Up & Safety Meetings
9:00 am – Children Arrival: Child / Guest Check In, Pairing, Plaque Photos
9:00 am – Fishing!
12:00 pm – Lunch
12:30 pm – Awards Celebration, Group Photo
1:00 pm – Event Ends. Clean Up & Departure