Golden Valley Kids Learn Ice Fishing Through Local Nonprofit
An Osseo Area Schools alum has a big goal: teach 10,000 Minnesota kids how to ice fish. With the support of the community, Karl Erickson is well on his way.
Erickson, who runs the nonprofit Urban Ice Anglers, aims to teach kids about ice fishing, conservation and ice safety.
He and about 500 kids and parents stormed the ice on Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Of that group, many were students from Meadowbrook Elementary in Golden Valley.
“We’re trying to help 10,000 kids participate in a Minnesota tradition at no cost,” Erickson said. “With no cost barriers, no equipment barriers, no experience barriers that are in the way.”
When the kids arrived, he gave a brief lesson on respecting the lake and knowing how to check the ice for safety.
For 70 to 90 percent of the kids, it was their first time ice fishing.
“Hopefully, this creates a future generation of watershed stewards, and kids that make great decisions when we do get to the lake,” Erickson said.
Erickson was especially excited to get on the ice. He’s tried to make this event happen the last two years, but weather got in the way.
Fortunately, conditions were optimal this year.
“There’s a lot of things that they get to learn as they’re out here experiencing, and get their hands on equipment,” he said on Tuesday morning. “So far, there’s been 10 catches on the lake, so there’s kids catching and having that experience and that excitement.”
Karl Erickson, who runs the nonprofit Urban Ice Anglers, instructs a group of Meadowbrook Elementary students on ice safety and water conservation.
A New Experience
The Meadowbrook Elementary kids didn’t get quite so lucky with fish, but every kid who spoke with CCX News said they were having fun.
“I felt one, but I didn’t catch it,” said one of the kids named Logan, a first-time ice fisher and Meadowbrook Elementary student. “It’s like if you’re holding a stick and someone pulls on it a little bit.”
His classmate, Ida, has ice fished once, but was excited about all the logistics this time around.
“The fish don’t stay, they keep going away,” Ida said. “It’s been fun. I haven’t caught a fish. My friend had a lot of snow in her hole, so we had to clean it out with the tool. It was pretty fun.”
Even if they didn’t reel anything in, the kids learned valuable lessons. Fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Bell said her kids were super excited. And she herself was excited to share something new with them.
“You know, [it’s] pretty important for kids to find things they can do in the winter to be outside,” Bell said. “Get kids excited about something new they’ve never tried before. Giving kids an opportunity to try something new that maybe their families aren’t able to do because of cost, or just haven’t been able to give them that experience.”
An instructor from Three Rivers Park District helps teach a group of kids how to ice fish. Groups of students are spread throughout the different ice houses on the lake.
Keeping it Going
This field trip comes at no costs to the families who participate. Erickson said its a donation-based program.
In past years, it operated on grants. This year, most of its funding is coming from sponsors and donations. Baztec Fishing and Outdoors is its main fiscal sponsor. Three Rivers Parks instructors also helped teach students out on the ice.
Erickson said there’s big demand for his project from schools, but it’s lacking in funding. His goal is to collaborate with 100 agencies to support ice fishing yearly for 10,000 youth. So far, he has helped 3,173 learn.
One of the best ways Erickson says people can support is by setting up their own events, which can help fund free programming for schools.
You can learn more about Urban Ice Anglers at its its website.
Erickson also hosts woodworking programs with schools through Elpis Enterprises. In that program, students learn to craft their own bird feeders.
A group of students head back to the shore after an hour of ice fishing. Urban Ice Anglers facilitated 5-6 different rotations and 500 ice fishers total on Tuesday.
