Families at Eau Claire Take Kids Fishing Day find their fishing spots at Braun’s Bay.
Union Volunteers Combine Passions for
Labor and Fishing at Wisconsin Youth Events
As part of a series of free, community-based youth outreach events organized by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), union volunteers hosted Take Kids Fishing Day events in two Wisconsin cities on June 7 for local youths and families.
In La Crosse, 90 kids learned fishing skills from a dozen union volunteers at Pettibone Park Lagoon, while in Eau Claire, 63 kids received hands-on instruction from 11 union members at Braun’s Bay.
One of the 63 youth participants at the Eau Claire Take Kids Fishing Day takes a photo with a fish. Each youth took home a free rod and reel.
Local unions represented include United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 96, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 14, International Association of Machinists (IAM) Locals 21 and 115, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 13 and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 8047.
Bill Brockmiller, treasurer of the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, volunteered at the La Crosse event and explained why the day is rewarding for union members.
“Members love coming together for outdoor projects,” he said. “Community involvement is treasured, especially when it involves youth, and it provides opportunities for folks from various unions to form bonds and enjoy the shared comradery.”
Union volunteers, parents and youths set up fishing rods and reels at Eau Claire Take Kids Fishing Day on June 7.
The events were part of the USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program, which unites union members to volunteer their time to projects and events that help improve public access to and opportunities in the outdoors.
Arik Erickson, IBEW Local 14 membership development specialist, served as the lead volunteer at Eau Claire event. He emphasized how important it is for union members to give back at this event, especially in a region with abundant public access to rivers, lakes, and streams.
“We have a lot of people that are interested in hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities,” Erickson said. “This is one of the easier events for our members to volunteer and help pass on something that they are also very passionate about.”
Sharing the fishing experience with the next generation brought back memories for Erickson.
“I grew up fishing — my family had a boat and would go fishing multiple times a year,” he said. “It was fun to see the excitement of what I got to experience growing up and pass it on to those who may not have the same opportunities that I had.”
Brockmiller added that seeing participants catch their first fish never gets old.
“After doing these events for 13 years, it’s still amazing how excited a child gets when they catch their first fish,” he said. “The size doesn’t matter — the smile does.”
