May 31 at the Dorn Fishing & Boating Facility was all about community. America’s Boating Club Thurmond Lake (ABCTL) partnered with the CAST for Kids Foundation to hold a one-day fishing & boating experience for children with special needs. ABCTL Executive Officer and Captain for the event Karen Love planned the day along with First Mate Danny Hilburn.
About 20 special needs participants each received a fishing pole, tackle box, event T-shirt, and cap and then joined their parents and volunteers who provided the boats. They spent the morning learning to fish and then convened on the shore for an award plaque and lunch.
The CAST for Kids public charity hosts annual fishing and boating events across America to provide a quality outdoor recreational experience to children with special needs. This is their 34th year of celebrating children with special needs and will hold over 100 events in 2025.
America’s Boating Club Thurmond Lake is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to boating safety and education. The members are boaters and boating families who boat together, learn together, and contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education. Please contact Education Officer Chester Mott at chestermott@gmail.com for information on boating classes.
The May 31 CAST for Kids event partnered with America’s Boating Club Thurmond Lake empowered families and our community to celebrate children with special needs, making these children feel valued and loved. Captain Love and First Mate Hilburn want to thank all of the volunteers who provided boats and helped with activities on the shore to make the day such a success. Plans are already in place to make this an annual event.