Watch

Taking Kids with Special Needs Fishing for a Day

Creator:
Published:
December 11, 2023
August 7, 2021
CAST for Kids fishing charity helps kids with special needs get out on the lake for a day of fishing.|CAST for Kids fishing charity helps kids with special needs get out on the lake for a day of fishing.

Brandon and Amy Barrett give their time and energy to a special cause: helping children with special needs enjoy the outdoors and go fishing through the C.A.S.T. for Kids organization."You can move mountains, you can get all these kids out on a boat, you can do anything that you want. Don't limit yourself. Anything is possible," Amy shares.

Video Transcript

Kid: Yes, we got something! Oh, we got something!

Kids with special needs are often unable to enjoy outdoor activities.

Family member: Woo!

Volunteer: Nice!

Kid: Yes! Yes!

CAST for Kids is a national charity that offers a free day of fishing.

Volunteer: And there you go. Now you've got him in your hand.

Family member: You did it!

But it only happens if local volunteers lead it.

Brandon Barrett: My brother was a special needs child and we didn't get to do a whole lot as kids, because we always had to stay home to help take care of him because there's a lot. Some of these families are facing big challenges, you know, more than what we can imagine.

Brandon Barrett: This gives them a fun day out on the water together, and just a few hours to forget about everything and try to catch a fish.

Amy Barrett: You know, that's kind of where my heart is: kids with special needs. And then his passion is fishing, and it was like, "Oh my goodness, this is perfect."

6:30 a.m. Lake Monroe, Indiana.

Announcer: And I would like to Amy Brand, the first CAST for Kids event that we've ever had in the state of Indiana.

Amy Barrett speaking on phone: Okay, maybe they were moved. They're in a big box at the back end of the shelter.

All the kids get a free fishing pole and tackle box, and expert help from a volunteer captain.

Volunteer: Say Cheese!

Kids in boat: Cheese!

Joe Long: Yeah, I think it's really cool what Amy and Brendan did. I mean, they team up and put on this event, and especially I think it was great that I was able to get involved, and it's inspiring to see all these kids come out and have a great time.

Brandon Barrett: I mean, they're going to talking about this forever. Just like we all do. We sit around and tell fish stories. Yeah, it's awesome!

Volunteer: Longer than the boat. We couldn't get it in.

Brandon Barrett: I guarantee there will be some kids who have got some stories.

Family member: Woo! Aww, swim away.

Family member: Good job!

Amy Barrett: Here is this plaque. There you go. Thank you, Jacob!

Volunteer: Yay!

Kid: Can I do it again?

Brandon Barrett: 33 fish! Wow! What did you use for bait?

Amy Barrett to crowd: I just want to thank everybody for coming out.

Amy Barrett: It has been tiring. I'm running on no sleep, but just to see these kids smile, it's worth it. Just getting out there and doing it and you can move mountains. You can get all these kids out on a boat. I mean you can do anything that you want. Don't limit yourself. Anything is possible.

Kid: I can't believe it!

Move mountains. Grotto Network.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
December 11, 2023
August 7, 2021
On a related note...
Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Make Community Mean Something in this Pandemic

Ben Wilson

Keeping Dreamers Dreaming

Keeping Dreamers Dreaming

Grotto

3 Ways Shopping Vintage Makes a Difference

3 Ways Shopping Vintage Makes a Difference

Gabriella Patti

Saints' Lives, as Told in Emoji — A Quiz

Saints' Lives, as Told in Emoji — A Quiz

Grotto

Designer Makes Clothes with Meaning

Designer Makes Clothes with Meaning

Grotto

Inspired by the Olympics? Here's How to Challenge Yourself

Inspired by the Olympics? Here's How to Challenge Yourself

Ben Wilson

Free Download: #ABetterLight Journaling Challenge

Free Download: #ABetterLight Journaling Challenge

Grotto

How Do We Avoid Tech Interfering With Our Humanity?

How Do We Avoid Tech Interfering With Our Humanity?

Erin Spruit

5 Minutes

5 Minutes

Grotto

This Young Climate Activist Seeks to Make a Better World

This Young Climate Activist Seeks to Make a Better World

Grotto

Facing the Pandemic as a Single Person

Facing the Pandemic as a Single Person

Grace Carroll

Faith Inspired by Saint Oscar Romero

Faith Inspired by Saint Oscar Romero

Grotto

5 Steps to Becoming More Body-Inclusive

5 Steps to Becoming More Body-Inclusive

Jessica Ping-Wild

How My Elderly Aunt Became One of My Best Friends

How My Elderly Aunt Became One of My Best Friends

Lillian Fallon

The “Media Nun” Brings Joy to the Internet

The “Media Nun” Brings Joy to the Internet

Grotto

Good and Decent S2|E5: Going to the Margins

Good and Decent S2|E5: Going to the Margins

Grotto

How Cooking Became My Creative Outlet

How Cooking Became My Creative Outlet

Mary Claire Lagroue

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

Jessica Mannen Kimmet

5 Ways to Use Beauty to Thrive During the Pandemic

5 Ways to Use Beauty to Thrive During the Pandemic

Carissa Pluta

Are We Correctly Remembering Our Immigrant Past?

Are We Correctly Remembering Our Immigrant Past?

Javi Zubizarreta

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.