For the second year in a row, Howard L. Goff Middle School is offering students the opportunity to learn about fishing through hands-on activities. More than 40 students attended an afterschool workshop on Thursday in the school gym led by Social Studies Teacher Shawn Yearsley and volunteers from the Home Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance, and Regeneron.
Students learned how to cast spinning rods and fly fishing rods. They also talked about catch and release fishing, conservation and how to handle the fish without harming them when removing hooks.
Planning is underway to offer a fishing trip to the town park in June.
“I would like to see this club continue to grow and ideally take the students on 2-3 fishing trips a school year,” said Mr. Yearsley. “I am hoping that teaching the students about fishing, and providing them the chance to go out and fish, provides them a respite from the pressures of school, grades, state tests and social media.”
Funding for the fishing program is coming from donations made in memory of Grant Hurd, a Columbia High School student who passed away in 2023. The funds will be used for fishing trips and to purchase fishing equipment for students who need it.
“We’re committed to offering our students opportunities to learn and develop,” said Goff Interim Principal James McHugh. “This is a great opportunity for students to get involved in an extracurricular activity and meet other kids with similar interests.”