On November 6 and 14, 2024, Sandy Run K-8 and St. Matthews K-8 Schools separately brought sixty and just over seventy 4th and 5th graders to participate in the first ever Pond Ecology Program (PEP) at the Interlaken Wildlife Center (IWC). The PEP is a partnership between the IWC, the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, and the Calhoun County Public Schools. Mary Dixon, Soil and Water Coordinator, used her contacts with Sandy Run and St. Matthews to develop the half-day program. The PEP consists of two major activities on our property: nature outings taught by SC Wildlife Federation master naturalists and fishing in the Interlaken pond. To prepare for fishing, Mary Dixon, Matt Bonnette (Interlaken Wildlife and Property Manager), an apprentice from the Gary Dietrich Apprentice Program (a partnership between IWC and the South Carolina Waterfowl Association), and I visited both schools and gave the students casting lessons.
Just over 70 Sandy Run students came on the first day. The weather was beautiful. More than twenty volunteers from various federal, state, local conservation organizations and private individuals helped with fishing instruction. Most were friends of Mary Dixon. Half of the students fished for just over an hour while the other half participated in the nature outings. The IWC purchased youth rods and reels with bobbers, weights, hooks, and worms for bait. In all, students caught over 85 fish, mostly bream! For most of these students, this was the first time they ever caught a fish. Do you remember the first time you caught a fish? Do you remember the magic of seeing your bobber disappear under the water as the fish took the bait? For these young student fishermen and women, the experience was thrilling and unforgettable. Other activities at the PEP included the nature outings and a trailer ride on the Interlaken property. Students brought their lunch from school, received a medal for joining the Interlaken Fishing Club, and loaded back up to return to school at 1:15 pm. Hopefully, this will be the start of a lifetime of enjoyment outdoors for many of these students. One teacher wrote after the event: “It was so much fun. The children are still talking about it! It was a wonderful experience that some may not have gotten otherwise, and they’ll never forget!!!”
The weather was not nearly as cooperative for St. Matthews school’s visit on the following Thursday. There was light rain the whole time. But with a big fire roaring in the IWC Pavilion’s fireplace to keep chilly bones warm, we made it through another successful program. This time 60 students caught over 65 fish, enjoyed the nature outings, ate their lunches, and received their fishing medals. Again, volunteers, students, and teachers had a wonderfully memorable day. Without the help of Bebe Dalton Harrison (SC Wildlife Federation), Jess Holm, Tami Kyre, and Ari Hippensteel (SC Wildlife Federation Master Naturalists), the program would not have been possible. And all the other volunteers were invaluable. As usual, Mary Dixon was the genius who organized the day. Thank you, all!
The Interlaken Wildlife Center hopes to make PEP an annual tradition. We want every Calhoun County 4th grader to look forward to catching a fish–maybe their first ever–at our pond. There is no better way to fulfill the IWC mission than to teach a kid to fish and let them enjoy the thrill of catching their first one here. We hope to do this for many years to come!
Richard Rankin
Interlaken Wildlife Center Director
