C.A.S.T. for Kids – Patoka Lake

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: 8:00 am
Type of Event: Boating

Event Coordinator

Chris Flickner
patokalake@castforkids.org
(812) 267-4794

Event Location Address

Patoka Lake State Park – South Ramp
3084 North Dillard Road
Birdseye, IN 47513

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!

“My child is a wheelchair user, so the ability for him to stay in his chair and ride on a pontoon boat was huge and made fishing easier for him! This C.A.S.T. event does an amazing job of organizing the entire day and putting the focus on the kids!!! I love the extent that they go to, to make each kid feel special and important! The awards ceremony is my absolute favorite!” - Parent of Participant, Patoka Lake

fishing at Patoka Lake State Park
Patoka Lake State Park participants
Patoka Lake State Park group photo
on the boat at Patoka Lake State Park

Event Sponsors

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

First Harrison Bank, Meade County Bank, Jasper Bassmasters, Bass Pro Shops, Crappie Magnet, C & R Construction, MCWHORTER, Edward Jones, Jones Machine & Tool Inc., Lopp Realtors – SDS Group, Wiseman Door Service, Robertson Crushed Stone, Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home, Dubois County Sportsmen Club
“Just makes me feel good to help a child to get out on my boat and catch a fish and teach them about fishing because this may be the only time the child has the opportunity to get on a boat and fish. My favorite was watching the fishing participant catch his fish and the excitement in his face and the excitement on his face when we took off in the boat.” - Volunteer Boater, Patoka Lake

Registration Links