Union volunteers set up fishing poles at the Dayton Area Take Kids Fishing Day on June 6
Dayton Area Union Members Give Back at Community Fishing Event
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and Ohio AFL-CIO partnered to unite local community members outdoors at the 2026 Dayton Area Take Kids Fishing Day on June 6 at Lakeside Lake.
Each youth participant received a gift bag filled with coloring books, colored pencils and other keepsakes, and took home a free rod and reel.
Take Kids Fishing events are part of USA’s flagship conservation program, Work Boots on the Ground, which organizes free, community-based youth outreach events nationwide. The program aims to connect families with the outdoors, teach conservation values, and inspire the next generation of anglers and environmental stewards.
A youth angler takes a photo with a fish at the Dayton Area Take Kids Fishing Day on June 6.
Participants fished on a metal fishing pier installed by union volunteers in 2017 through efforts by the USA and Ohio AFL-CIO, along with other organizations and partners, to improve public access and amenities at Lakeside Lake.
IUE-CWA Local 755 President Michael Gross was one of the volunteers who helped clean up the lake almost 10 years ago. He is proud of the lasting impact the dock has had in the community.
“Everybody needs to unplug,” he said. “Having a place in nature where you can do that is invaluable. It’s rewarding to see how well it’s been maintained and how many people use it throughout the year.”
David Lawson, a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 162, is one of the volunteers that keeps coming back to the event every year.
“What I enjoy most is seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces when they arrive,” he said. “For many of them, it’s their first fishing pole and their first time fishing. When they finally get a bite, their reactions are hysterical. It’s rewarding to introduce kids to something they’ve never experienced before.”
At the end, families in attendance enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs.
The impact of this event extends beyond fishing, according to Gross.
“We all live and work in the same communities,” he said. “We talk a lot about solidarity within our unions, but we also need to have solidarity throughout our communities. When that happens, everyone benefits—the community grows, the workforce grows, and unions can help lead the way.”
