LINCOLN – Down the winding path of Sycamore Landing, young people who have never seen a fish up close try their hand at practice poles before being handed the real thing.
They laugh as they cast and see their first couple throws land mere feet in front of them, but it doesn’t take long to hit their stride, aided by volunteer tutors. Some hooks end up in the trees at the shoreline, but the chore of untangling them is all part of the learning process here.
For years, volunteers from the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone dragged trash out of this former 150-year-old dump on the Blackstone River, and they’ve transformed the 12-acre property at 100 New River Road into a hub of nature-based activities.
This was always the goal, said John Marsland, president and founder of the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, to see people, young and old, introduced to the once-hidden beauty of the river and the joys of the outdoors.
Marsland said they started the program two years ago, and they saw more than 1,000 youth participate last summer. He said children learn about something they might never otherwise be part of, and catching their first fish sparks so many smiles.
Marsland said he expects to far exceed that number this year, as they also host Free Fishing Sundays at the Kelly House Barn, 1075 Lower River Road. He said 93 people participated in that program just last Sunday.
Tuesday morning saw two groups from Central Falls arrived, the first from Progreso Latino and the second from the city’s Recreation Department programs. Participants said they loved being part of it, and some said they hope to do more fishing in the future.
Marsland said they connect with summer camps in Woonsocket, Central Falls, Cumberland and Lincoln, and they also partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island.
Funding for the program in the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park comes through a grant from the National Park Foundation, and funding is also provided by the Navigate Credit Union Charitable Foundation.
Marsland and his crew park their trailer with the words “Let’s go fishing! Family friendly fishing program in the Blackstone River Valley” down near the riverbank, under the giant sycamore tree. As the youth fish, a hawk alights on the tree across the river, then flies off.
He said the simplicity of the program is its best quality. Students get to just experience the world, with no real schedule and in an intentionally relaxed atmosphere.
