
Tri-Cities 4th and 5th graders participate in the annual Salmon Summit April 29-30 at Columbia Park in Kennewick, WA.
Union Volunteers Hook the Next Generation
at Tri-Cities Salmon Summit
By PJ DelHomme
Columbia Park in Kennewick, WA, was alive with excitement April 29-30 as more than 3,200 4th and 5th graders from the Tri-Cities area gathered for the annual Salmon Summit, a two-day event that connects students with nature, Native American culture, and the region’s rich salmon heritage. Among many highlights at the event is when students release tiny salmon into the Columbia River.
This year, for the first time, union volunteers from the Central Washington Building Trades brought a hands-on casting clinic to the event, introducing hundreds of kids to the basics of casting an old-school Zebco rod and reel.
The casting station was organized by IBEW Local 112 Business Manager Travis Swayze, who has long been passionate about fishing and the outdoors.
“It’s definitely a first step for these kids to be in the sporting community,” he said. “One little girl, about waist high, told me, ‘This isn’t exactly like fishing.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but it’s pretty close, right?’ She smiled and admitted it was.”
Over two days, roughly 550 kids cycled through the casting clinic, each getting about 10 minutes to practice casting with a Zebco reel and a plastic “minnow” lure designed to mimic the weight and feel of real baitfish.
“Most kids thought they knew how to cast, but they didn’t,” Swayze laughed. “Those reels backlash like nobody’s business. We burned up a few reels that we didn’t have time to fix because there were so many kids coming through.”
The volunteers worked around the clock to keep the clinic running smoothly.
“I could have had 10 volunteers and still kept them busy,” Swayze said. “There were no breaks, but the event was very well organized.”
Despite the fast pace—about 12 classes per day, with groups averaging about 28 kids—the volunteers held steady.
“Just about everyone we had there had kids and knew how to untangle reels. We also knew when to cut our losses, literally,” Swayze said. “We expected more train wrecks, but there weren’t many. About a third of the kids said they had fished before, but I’m not so sure.”
The casting station quickly became a favorite stop for many students.
“Kids kept telling us this was the best station,” Swayze said. “That made it cool for us because it really was exhausting.”

A Salmon Summit volunteer representing the Central Washington Building Trades assists youths at the casting station.
In addition to teaching casting, the volunteers aimed to inspire the kids about the possibilities that come with union trades and outdoor recreation.
“I asked the kids if they liked building stuff, and about half raised their hands. I told them, ‘So do we,’” Swayze said. “All we’re doing is introducing these kids to fishing and letting them know they can build anything when they grow up.”
Sam Phipps, Director of Conservation for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), praised the dedication of the volunteers.
“We have a lot of incredible volunteers, and Travis really sets himself apart. He’s just a great guy,” Phipps said.
The Salmon Summit connects young students to their environment and community, and one of the best parts is that it’s during school. They didn’t need to drag their parents to something on a weekend, Swayze said. “I think anytime kids are on a field trip, they’re going to be jacked,” he said.
Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of union volunteers, hundreds of kids left the event not only having learned how to cast but also with a new appreciation for the outdoors and the opportunities that lie ahead.
As Swayze put it, “It’s the first step for a lot of kids who haven’t fished before. All we’re doing is giving them that chance.”