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Health & Fitness

One Benefit of the Super Cold - Ice Fishing for All!

Interested in taking the family ice fishing? You are luck! With the super cold weather, ponds and lakes are forming ice thicker and quicker than ever. Be sure to double check with you local DNR office before heading out on any ice. 

If you are familiar with ice fishing, and want to help others, check out these opportunities for Outdoor Mentors:

·         Henry Hubben (The Big Woods Club and DNR Outdoor Mentor Trainer) is planning spring “outdoor skills adventure treasure hunts” for teens and their adult supervisors and is seeking Outdoor Mentors to help teach, supervise and mentor these events. For details contact Henry.

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o   Got ideas for unique outdoor events? Do you have experience in outdoor event planning? The BWC is looking for planners, mentors and teachers for on-going programs: henry@bigwoodsclub.org  or 612-529-2479.

·         Mark Tipler from Tips Outdoors is also providing numerous ice fishing experiences this winter for schools and other events. If you have some time and a little experience with ice angling, give Mark a holler at: tipsoutdoors@gmail.com.

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o   Take A Kid Ice Fishing (TAKIF – Jan18 through 20, 2014….this is a new date) weekend event to capture an ice experience for youths and their guardians of Big Brothers Big Sisters will take place on Jan 18 on a Medicine Lake and a Feb 15 on Bald Eagle Lake.

o   Fire & Ice Event on Jan 24 at Powderhorn Park in Mpls form 5 to 9pm – skating, arts, ice fishing, campfire and SMORES! Give Mark a holler to help out with this inner city happening.

o   February 1st Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Ann by Chanhassen. Activities include ice skating, smores, sledding bingo, horse-drawn hayride (weather permitting) and an ice fishing contest. Contact Mark Tipler for more information.

 Icy Opportunities for families and young ones:

·         Take a Kid Ice Fishing (TAKIF) weekend now has a new home on the calendar. In the past TAKIF has taken place towards the end of February which has had poor ice and/or very little safe time left in the season in recent years to provide additional experiences, so if you are a resident age 16 years or older you may take fish by angling without an angling license and may take fish by spearing from a dark house without a spearing license and without a fish house or dark house license if the resident is accompanied by a child who is under age 16 on Jan 18-20, 2014. There are also a variety of organized fishing opportunities throughout the state during Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend, visit: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/minnaqua/icefishing/index.html for more information.

·         American Angler League announces MN Youth Ice Fishing Challenge model by introduces fishing to children in a structured environment similar to youth sports. They believe that in order for children to become lifelong anglers, they need continuous opportunities to fish while they are young. They also need someone to teach them how to fish and then take them fishing. The model relies on encouraging experienced anglers to recruit and fish with limited experienced angling families.

o   The ice fishing season will be open to boys and girls between the ages of five and seventeen. Anglers will be allowed to fish anytime on any Minnesota lake from January 1through February 23, 2014. Using the American Angler Leagues’ standardized scoring system anglers will earn points for their catch which will be tracked throughout the season on the American Angler Leagues’ website. For more information visit: http://www.americananglerleagues.com/page/show/692169-american-angler-leagues or contact Kolt Ringer at: koltringer@gmail.com

·         Winter is no time to stay inside when there are plenty of fun things to do outside. Join REI, Fort Snelling State Park and our partners to try Winter Trails Day by snowshoeing, going geocaching, taking a naturalist-guided hike, playing in the snow, learning how to build a quinzee (find out what that is), go cross country skiing, learn about skijoring and dogsledding, keeping warm in winter, cold weather camping, and more! Equipment will be provided. There will be a sweepstakes to win a pair of snowshoes, a large bonfire and hot cocoa to keep warm. Winter Trails Day takes place on January 11th from 11am-4pm at Fort Snelling State Park. The event is free, but State Park vehicle permit fees still apply - $5 day permit, $25 annual permit. For more information on this experience and a sleigh full of other opportunities, visit: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/index.html?keywords=&month=1&year=2014.

·         Faribault Park & Rec, Cabela’s and the Rice Co. Sportfishing Association have put together a free indoor family activity on Sat. Jan. 18, from 1-5pm at the Washington Center. This fun event happens on the state’s “Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend,” and will introduce kids and adults to the world of ice fishing. The mission of the clinic is to educate and help families plan for a safe and enjoyable outing on the ice! Contact Jeff Jarvis for more information at: jjarvis@ci.faribault.mn.us or (507) 384-0516.

·         Holes for Heroes Ice Fishing Contest and Experience at Medicine Lake on February 1 from 1pm to 4pm. Come thank a military person for giving so much, join in on some ice education and fishing for a very modest price with great prizes. Visit: http://www.fishingforlife.org/ for more information or to register. 

Questions on any of these events? Contact 

Mike “Cold Front” Kurre, MN DNR

Mentoring Program Coordinator

651-259-5193

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