Breaking In the New TAAS Canoes

Last Sunday was a big day for the Thornton Academy Anglers' Society. After over a year of planning and grant writing, we finally hit the water in our shiny new Old Town canoes. I started the Anglers' Society when I arrived at T.A. in the fall of 2013 with the hope of increasing students' outdoor knowledge and appreciation through fishing. I took two kids ice fishing on our first outing that winter. The club has grown steadily ever since and today boasts around 20 dedicated members. Outings these days typically include 14 kids (the max our mini-buses will hold). While ice fishing sets up great for groups of this size, finding locations where those kinds of numbers can effectively open water fish from shore is considerably more of a challenge. Having a small fleet of canoes opens up a much larger list of possible fishing locations, dramatically increases the likelihood of success for our young anglers, and teaches a lifelong skill many of them may have never been exposed to.

Picking up our new canoes at the dealership last June. 

As a youngster, I participated in the Pathfinders program at Bonny Eagle Middle School. Pathfinders is geared toward outdoor adventure but definitely had a large fishing component with our advisor, Mr. Pelletier, being an avid fly fisherman. As a seventh and eighth grader in the Pathfinders program, I camped and paddled all over the state including Munsungan Stream, Baxter Sate Park, and the St. John River. Along the way, I formed lifelong friendships and made a ton of fond memories. My time as a Pathfinder was transformative and plays a big role in my mission as a teacher these days. Since day one of the Anglers' Society here at T.A., the dream of acquiring some canoes of our own has always been in the back of my mind.

The boys spring pathfinder group on our overnight in Baxter State Park, June, 2001

Students on last Sunday's outing participated in a mandatory safety training, that once completed, qualifies them for all canoe outings going forward. They learned the important parts of a canoe, a variety of strokes, safe transport, PFD use and emergency procedures before ever touching the water in a TAAS boat. Watching Thornton Academy students paddle down the river on Sunday shortly after launch, I sat reflecting on the journey from my time as a middle school Pathfinder to leading trips with my kids today. It was surreal to watch kids confidently paddle down the river landing fish and making great memories. If just of few of these members someday pass on their skill and passion for the outdoors, the TAAS mission has been accomplished. In the end, we landed 70+ fish and had an awesome day afield. My head is spinning brainstorming all of the cool things we are going to be able to do with our new boats.

The T.A. Anglers on the river shortly after launch.  

Cody and Ivy with a nice smallmouth on the line. 

Isaac and Breece laughing it up on the river. 

A huge thank you has to go out to Thornton Academy for their support in the mission of the Anglers' Society, the Cabelas' Outdoor Fund who helped to fund our canoe project through their "round up for conservation" program, and Jeremy Goulet for helping to chaperone the maiden voyage. We also need to thank Mike Delcourt, or "The Original Mr. Delcourt" as the kids call him, for assisting in shuttling vehicles from our starting point to the take out and donating some of his secret lures to each kid.

 Cody with a big smallmouth.

Nolan with a fine largemouth.