Fire-building Skills Proved Useful During a Chilly Spring Fishing Adventure. Written by AXL Academy CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda.

AXL Academy 8th graders in CAP class gathered on a frigid early Friday morning to head out on our fishing adventure. We piled in the vans for our hour-long drive to Colorado Youth Outdoors in Fort Collins. As soon as we arrived, students were met with a flurry of snow in the 30 degree weather and eagerly layered up in fleeces, puffers, and gloves. We were surrounded by large ponds stocked with largemouth bass, pan fish, carp, catfish, and rainbow trout to name a few.

To warm up our bodies before the fishing adventure, we got to playing a game of “Mass Paranoia”, similar to tag but more chaotic and silly. Each student tucks a bandana on their side and everyone jumps into the circle with the goal of stealing bandanas from other students – with the last one standing as the winner. Students got competitive, and we played at least 5 rounds of this game before it was time to start fishing.

Caroline gathered students to give a fishing 101 talk and demo before everyone headed out with their fishing rods. Students scoped out the vast swaths of ponds and found a spot to sit and wait on docks and benches. Some students waited patiently at one spot while others explored. Of course the winds made for a tough environment, and students had trouble keeping their fishing lines from tangling.

Students quickly worked up an appetite so instructors and a crew of student volunteers put together a sandwich bar for lunch. We ate our sandwiches and snacks while we waited for hot chocolate to warm up. While some students stayed engaged in fishing for the rest of the day, other students were eager to get warm. With all hands on deck foraging for tinder and kindling, we eventually got a fire going in the fireplace of the pavilion. Students sipped their hot chocolate and before we knew it, it was time to head back to school. The chilly fishing adventure ended on a high note due to fire-building skills and hot chocolate!

A big thanks to the funders and supporters that make the CAP class possible, including: Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Patagonia, Thorne Nature Experience, Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program and the Xcel Energy Foundation.

If you too are passionate about getting students outside and inspiring them to connect with the natural world, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!