Camp Carefree Derby on Merrymeeting Lake

[JohnNH]

To all members of the Merrymeeting Lakes Association:

I have posted information about the upcoming Camp Carefree Fishing Derby on several web sites and received an email from your webmaster who asked me to post some information on this site relative to the event.

Quick background:
My name is John Cowan. My family and I live in Weare, NH. I am President of North East Bass Association of New Hampshire (the largest non-profit fishing organization in the state with a membership of over 300). I have been very active in the promotion of fishing, education, safety and regulatory issues for over 30 years.

Camp Carefree:
The Camp Carefree Derby is all about the youngsters that attend the camp (Lion's Pride facility). Our fishing organization has been involved with the camp for 11 years and our goal is to deliver to these children who are afflicted with Diabetes, a full day of fishing on Merrymeeting lake, basic fishing education, water safety education, on-shore games, certified BASS casting contests and more.

For those who are not aware, Camp Carefree is a 2-week camp for children with diabetes. The camp is located at the Lion's Pride facilities on Merrymeeting Lake. Over the years, the day of fishing (etc.) is one of the highlights of their camping experience.

Why Merrymeeting and why is this on a weekday:

A) Camp Carefree is on Merrymeeting Lake and for many reasons we can’t transport the youngsters to any off camp premise facility.

B) From the beginning of the planning process that led to this special day, we took two very important issues into consideration:

· First = the children’s safety
· Second = reduced impact on the Merrymeeting Lake environment and launch facility.
· In an effort to meet these concerns, we selected a Wednesday. By holding the event in the middle of the week, there is far less boat traffic which is certainly safer for the kid’s and our field of approximately 30 boats will not contribute a detrimental impact on the use of the lake by the residents and visitors.

Please review the following information, which is the post that I placed on several other boards (winnipesaukee.com, etc.)

In addition, we welcome anyone that may have some time to join us in delivering a day of enjoyment for these great kid’s and creating life long memories.
(Please note that I can be reached at johnh@comcast.net.. In addition, I will be at the launch facility at Merrymeeting by 7:00AM on Wednesday, August 3 in an effort to organize the launching of the boats and welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have. )

Regards to all the members and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding,

John Cowan
President, NEBA of NH

MESSAGE BOARD POSTING:

Call to boaters and non-boaters:

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday August 3, 2005.

This is the date for our annual Camp Carefree Diabetic Children's Derby on Merrymeeting Lake.

This year we will once again be taking approximately 150 diabetic children fishing for the day. We will also have shore activities that includes games, prizes and an official BASS Casting Kid's contest. We will also be conducting a New Hampshire Fish & Game sponsored Let's Go Fishing program (condensed version)

We would also like to see some contributions for the kid's. Bring anything that a youngster ages 8 to 14 would enjoy - it doesn't need to be fishing related.

We need help as follows:
Boats = we need 30 or more.
On-Shore = we need 12 or more people to assist with games and casting contests.

This event is a joint effort between North East Bass Association of New Hampshire and NH BASS Federation.

In advance I would like to thank the following sponsors:
Irwin Marine
Granite State Rod & Reel
Owens Marine
Rocky Ledge
Walmart- Hudson, NH (Wow are these people great)
Martel's Bait Shop

Agenda:
We will be assembling at the Powder Mill Hatchery // Merrymeeting launch site at 7:00AM on 8/3. Boat launching and off site parking will take place at this time. The people that will be helping on shore can either travel by boat to the camp or follow me to the on-shore facilities.

The event will start with the first group of kids at 9:00AM and they will return to shore at 11:30AM. We will pick up the 2nd group at 1:00PM and return them to shore at 3:30PM.

Please contact John Cowan, President, NEBA of NH at johnnh@comcast.net = these wonderful kids need our help and you will have the time of your life and build memories that last forever.

Please Help,
John/NH
John Cowan

[JohnNH]

Camp Carefree Fishing Derby


Camp Carefree Mission Statement:
The mission of American Diabetes Association Camp Carefree is to provide a fun-filled, educational camping experience for children with diabetes that will help them to develop and maintain active, heatlthy lifestyles.

North East Bass Association’s Goal:
Our organization has been sponsoring a fishing derby at Camp Carefree since 1995. Our goal is to provide the campers with an enjoyable day on the beautiful waters of Merrymeeting Lake. The daily activities are planned in concert with the traditions of Camp Carefree and assist in the camper’s development of establishing a healthy lifestyle.

Camp Carefree Scope of Activities:
During the day, our volunteers provide the children with hours of fun filled memories of learning how to catch fish as well as education on fishing ethics, environmental responsibility, and a host of other on shore activities.

On the Water:
Fishing on Merrymeeting Lake: There will be several flights of camper’s onboard boats enjoying the excellent fishing experience that the lake has to offer. The annual average of campers that go out on boats is 125.

On-shore programs:
a)State of New Hampshire, Fish & Game Department Let’s Go Fishing Program:
Volunteers from our Bass fishing organization as well as other certified instructors, conduct a revised version of the multi-day Let’s Go Fishing Program. This educational program delivers an overview of a variety of fishing tackle, fish identifications, environmental responsibility, ecology, and water safety.

b)BASS Certified Casting Kid’s Contest:
The North East Bass Association in partnership with the New Hampshire Bass Federation, conduct a certified ESPN/BASSMASTER’S Kid’s Casting Contest with the campers. This is an all day event at Camp Carefree. The competitors go through practice sessions and then take the challenge of competing in 3 types of target casting techniques (casting / flipping / pitching). During this process, the campers accumulate points based on their ability to hit certified targets. There are 2 age class winners. The winners of this event are invited to move to the next challenge and compete at a state level event, which is held over the winter. The winners of the state level event move on to the regional and then to the national event (nationals include the competitor and family = all expenses paid by BASS). The age class winners at the nationals receive a $25,000 college scholarship.

c)On-shore games:
During the day that is filled with so many exciting sports related programs, our special friends from Wal-Mart, Hudson, NH, bring thousands of dollars worth of handouts and games for the campers to enjoy. During the day, the volunteers from Wal-Mart, conduct all sorts of games and contest with the campers. If that’s not enough, Wal-Mart awards lots of prizes at the end of the day’s events.

Camp Carefree Agenda:
7:00AM: Boats arrive at the Merrymeeting Lake launch facilities. The boats are launched and the trailers are parked at the Powder Mill Hatchery facilities.
7:45 to 8:15AM – Camp Carefree Derby briefing. All volunteers will be in attendance at the briefing, which will take place at the Merrymeeting Lake dam. The boaters will be given an overview on the day’s activities and safety practices.
9:00AM (On Lake activities)The boaters will assemble at the camp docks located at Lion’s Pride shore facilities.
9:00AM (On shore activities) The on shore instructors and volunteers will begin the educational courses as well as certified casting contests. Note: a briefing and assignment of duties will take place at this time)
10:30AM The first flight of campers that went out on the lake will return to the docks and the 2nd flight will go out for the next trip.
12:00 Noon to 1:00PM (lunch break)
1:15PM The 3rd flight of campers will go out on the lake.
2:45 // 3:00PM. A 4th flight (if required) will go out on the lake.
4:00PM There will be an awards ceremony on shore at the main camp meeting hall facility. At this time, every camper will receive an award ribbon, and the winners of the casting contest will be awarded prizes and certificates that certify their participation and qualify them to move on to the next level.

What Volunteers need to bring:
Boaters/Anglers:
Bring easy to use fishing rods = zebco push button are best and spinning rods are a good alternate.
Small hooks, bobbers, and plenty of worms.
Life vests for the kids (if you have them)

DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD OR DRINKS FOR THE CAMPERS. THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SNACK PACKS AND THEY ARE ON A CONTROLLED DIET.
ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING, DRINKING, DRUGS.

No High Speed Boat Rides ( 35 or 40 is OK – conditions permitting)

I hope to see you all there and welcome you to enjoy a day on the water or shore with these wonderful kid’s at Camp Carefree.
If you can give all or part of your day to volunteer, please contact me and I will be glad to add you to our roster of attendee’s.

John Cowan
President, North East Bass Association of New Hampshire johnnh@comcast.net

[JohnNH]

I wanted to post an update on the Camp Carefree Diabetic Childrens Derby event which took place on Merrymeeting Lake yesterday 8/3/05.

Our group of boaters and shore workers arrived at the lake and camp property in the morning. The boaters arrived between 7 and 8 am and launched their boats. The shore workers arrived at the camp between 8 and 9am.

We began the fishing segments of the event at 9:15am and continued throughout the day and the by days end we had taken approximately 135 kid's fishing and threw in a few nice boat rides.

The on-shore activities included multiple outdoor games and a certified BASS Kid's Casting contest. The casting contest included just over 150 kid's.

The end result was lot's of very happy children, more great memories for all of us and a chance to make some new friends.

The day was absolutely beautiful - limited wind, clear sky, great scenery and good fishing.

I wanted to thank the Merrymeeting Lakes Association for allowing us to promote the event on the web site and offer a special thanks to Mark Sullivan for joining us in the days events.

It's people like Mark that make these type of events a success.

When all was said and done, our goal was to provide an enjoyable day on and off the water for these wonderful kid's at Camp Carefree = and for the 11th year in a row, we accomplished our mission.

On behalf of all the kid's at the camp and the wonderful volunteers, I wanted to thank everyone for a job well done.

Regards to all and see you again next August,

John Cowan
President,
North East Bass Association of New Hampshire