so I was fishing a local pond today, and an 11 year old kid comes up and asks me how to flyfish (mostly cast). He got a rod recently, but nobody he knows flyfishes.
In today’s world can you even offer to take a kid fishing you don’t know? Maybe I offer for the kid to meet me at the park sometime during the evening (with his mother in attendance )?
I don’t have kids, but I really felt for the kid b/c he seemed so interested.
thoughts?
Unfortunately in this day and age you need to be cautious in your approach. I think asking his folks first is your best beat. The last thing you need is trouble. By approaching his parents first you will hopefully convince them of your good intention.
Good luck and keep us posted.
approaching the parents first is the right thing, making it clear that for him to fish with you he has to have a parent present. your not a baby sitter, (some parents don’t care who they dump the kids onto) you want to give some fishing instruction. perhaps you could recommend a club event or something where he can fish with you and others.
Eric
Something we demand of Scouters is ‘Two Deep Leadership’. No boy is to EVER be alone with an adult, PERIOD. There are no exceptions. This protects the boys and the leaders. By all means work out something to have another unrelated (to you) adult with you and the boy. My preference would be the club atmosphere.
I encourage anyone who regularly works with youth in any setting to take the Youth Protection Training created for Scout Leaders. You do not need to be a registered Scouter to take the training online, but you do need to create an account.
You can create an account and find links to the training here. https://myscouting.scouting.org/_layouts/MyScouting/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fPages%2feLearning.aspx
Yes, it is a shame that we need to do this, but it is a fact of life. I am required to take this training every 2 years to be a Scouter. Beginning the first of June, you can not even register as a Scouter without taking this training. It will take about 30-45 minutes online. At the very least, it will help you be smarter about how you deal with kids.
Would it help to know who gave him the rod or how he got it? Perhaps that is the other adult you could work with.
Stranger taking a kid fishing—never. One word from any child can get an adult in trouble these days. Ask a well meaning friend of mine. Invite him to do it some evening with parents or as one said the person that gave hin the fly rod.
Some have mentioned boy scouts–as a merit badge counselor I have taught fly fishing to over 150. Went thru a police check,and my traning wasnt as strck as some have wrote. Im allowed to teach 2 boy scouts or two adults and one scout. BILL
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Get together with the parent/parents, and work something out. Best thing to do is to have one of them there with you when you are working with the kid. Having been in Scouts, and being a teacher, I know that there are so many things that could go wrong in a one-on-one situation. Besides, if a parent is there, they will be learning right along with the kid. It could turn into something that they could both enjoy.
CJ
I wouldnt approach the parents and ask permission, that seems a little creepy too. I would find out how he got the rod from.
WOW!!! WHAT have we come to?
Mark
I would approach the parents with the offer to teach the young man to cast possibly in their front yard, even offer to have a police officer there. Having been a Hunters Ed instructor for several years, 20 or so, I have had several kids ask to go hunting with me. I tell them that they have to have a parent with them, or have writen permission for me to take them. I also meet with the parents before anything is even started in the way of plans. That said, have had the background check done for Hunters ED, for Catholic School where the wife taught, for being a chaparone and for being a swimming referee for the public school system. The important thing is NOT to be alone with him, always have a second adult with you, preferably a parent. Traci, the wife, suggested that you offer to meet the family at the pond for a picnic and casting lessons. Bring your wife, If married, or some other friends that flyfish also. Good luck with this adventure, keep us informed as to how it goes.
I volunteer and teach outdoor ethics (Leave No Trace). I have a legal agreement with the Leave No Trace Center in Boulder, carry their liability insurance, keep first aid and CPR certifications current and have worked with state DNR and scouts for years. I always require that the kids are chaperoned by someone else. Unfortunately, this is the only way you can “volunteer” to help kids. You may want to check in to local scouting opportunities or public classes through local parks departments or with local fishing groups as opposed to private sessions. The local park may be interested in you volunteering.
This is a typical post that someone addressed ealier–everyone has to get in the act without reading thru the posts. One said get permission from the parents and even another said have a police officer there. The parents would side with the child. Shouldnt the police have more important things to do ? Like everyone earlier wrote two adults one child. BILL