"A perfect mix of learning how to fish combined with ecology/environmental teachings. Changing locations daily and seeing the different types of wildlife/sea life and tides in each area, while focusing on sustainability and protecting endangered species, was fascinating for the kids. My son was very excited to go each day and can’t wait for camp this summer!"
Jackie, Parent 2021
"Graham ran an amazing fishing experience for kids during the 2021 summer. Griffin learned, and CAUGHT, some fish including a striper. Graham taught kids how to fish in different parts of hull, with different kinds of bait, teaching the kids to match how they fish to where they fish. Truly a wonderful experience for young anglers."
Aron, Parent 2021
"Fishing is fun and this camp made it even more fun. I knew almost nothing about fishing and I learned a lot. Graham is very nice and a great teacher."
Jonathan, Camper 2021
"We were very excited when Graham first mentioned starting a fishing camp for kids in and around Hull. We have a couple of grand kids who have gone fishing once or twice and really liked it. Unfortunately, we don’t have the equipment or the know how to teach them or get them started. We signed up two of the younger boys and they had a great experience! Every day they came home talking about different kinds of lures and about catch and release. Graham was such a good teacher and the kids of all different ages got along so well. I think he’s a natural for this and we’ll hopefully be sending a couple more grand kids this Summer! We’re very lucky to have this in our town thanks to Graham!"
Bonnie, Parent 2021
It’s Spring! The season when parents begin thinking about summer activities and camp for children. Last summer I was reading a local newspaper and discovered an ocean fishing camp for children. I contacted the instructor and, I was filleting my first striped bass several weeks later. I was hooked! What is so magical about fishing and what are some of the health and cognitive benefits for modern children? Let’s begin with some of the health benefits of fishing. Fishing happens outdoors and is unarguably a goal directed activity. Therefore, it different than simply sending children outdoors to play. The modern child spends significantly less time in nature than a child of prior generations. Research clearly shows that children’s attention increases when they spend time in nature. As outlined by the research paper, Quasi-Randomized Trial of Contact with Nature and Effects on Attention in Children written by Shannon Johnson and colleges, one major theory is called, Attention Restoration Theory or “ART” for short. According to ART, attention is a limited resources that becomes fatigued with prolonged use. When children spent time in natural environments, their brains have time to “recover” from the demands of day to day life. According to Steven Kaplan’s 1995 paper, The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework, especially restorative environments engage “soft fascination,” or attention grabbing stimuli that grab our involuntary attention. An example of soft fascination might be the sight of a bird flying overhead, a piece of seaweed drifting across the ocean, and of course the pull of a fish tugging on our fishing pole. Remember that soft fascination does not have to be visual in nature. Soft fascination can include the sounds of birds chirping and the crashing of ocean waves. It can also include the feeling of sand and mud between one's toes! Fishing is an excellent activity for children because it restores attention while also being a goal directed activity.
Fishing involves a great deal of planning and replies upon executive functioning. Executive functioning involves the ability to think flexibly. So when a fish swims by and the child is unsuccessful at reeling it in, the child does not give up but tries a different approach. Maybe that means moving to a new location, trying a different type of bait or simply being patient and waiting for a bite! Children need to be flexible and creative to excel at fishing.
Tricia Skoler, PhD.
Bio: Tricia Skoler is a Professor of Cognitive Development and resident of Hull where she loves fishing!
Jackie, Parent 2021
"Graham ran an amazing fishing experience for kids during the 2021 summer. Griffin learned, and CAUGHT, some fish including a striper. Graham taught kids how to fish in different parts of hull, with different kinds of bait, teaching the kids to match how they fish to where they fish. Truly a wonderful experience for young anglers."
Aron, Parent 2021
"Fishing is fun and this camp made it even more fun. I knew almost nothing about fishing and I learned a lot. Graham is very nice and a great teacher."
Jonathan, Camper 2021
"We were very excited when Graham first mentioned starting a fishing camp for kids in and around Hull. We have a couple of grand kids who have gone fishing once or twice and really liked it. Unfortunately, we don’t have the equipment or the know how to teach them or get them started. We signed up two of the younger boys and they had a great experience! Every day they came home talking about different kinds of lures and about catch and release. Graham was such a good teacher and the kids of all different ages got along so well. I think he’s a natural for this and we’ll hopefully be sending a couple more grand kids this Summer! We’re very lucky to have this in our town thanks to Graham!"
Bonnie, Parent 2021
It’s Spring! The season when parents begin thinking about summer activities and camp for children. Last summer I was reading a local newspaper and discovered an ocean fishing camp for children. I contacted the instructor and, I was filleting my first striped bass several weeks later. I was hooked! What is so magical about fishing and what are some of the health and cognitive benefits for modern children? Let’s begin with some of the health benefits of fishing. Fishing happens outdoors and is unarguably a goal directed activity. Therefore, it different than simply sending children outdoors to play. The modern child spends significantly less time in nature than a child of prior generations. Research clearly shows that children’s attention increases when they spend time in nature. As outlined by the research paper, Quasi-Randomized Trial of Contact with Nature and Effects on Attention in Children written by Shannon Johnson and colleges, one major theory is called, Attention Restoration Theory or “ART” for short. According to ART, attention is a limited resources that becomes fatigued with prolonged use. When children spent time in natural environments, their brains have time to “recover” from the demands of day to day life. According to Steven Kaplan’s 1995 paper, The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework, especially restorative environments engage “soft fascination,” or attention grabbing stimuli that grab our involuntary attention. An example of soft fascination might be the sight of a bird flying overhead, a piece of seaweed drifting across the ocean, and of course the pull of a fish tugging on our fishing pole. Remember that soft fascination does not have to be visual in nature. Soft fascination can include the sounds of birds chirping and the crashing of ocean waves. It can also include the feeling of sand and mud between one's toes! Fishing is an excellent activity for children because it restores attention while also being a goal directed activity.
Fishing involves a great deal of planning and replies upon executive functioning. Executive functioning involves the ability to think flexibly. So when a fish swims by and the child is unsuccessful at reeling it in, the child does not give up but tries a different approach. Maybe that means moving to a new location, trying a different type of bait or simply being patient and waiting for a bite! Children need to be flexible and creative to excel at fishing.
Tricia Skoler, PhD.
Bio: Tricia Skoler is a Professor of Cognitive Development and resident of Hull where she loves fishing!