On one Eden Prairie Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing excursions last summer, fisher people caught, and released, an estimated 150 panfish. Needless to say, the fishing/catching was easy.
Cops-N-Bobbers Event with Eden Prairie Let’s Go Fishing
Nineteen Eden Prairie Safety Camp graduates, four Eden Prairie police officers and four Let’s Go Fishing-Eden Prairie Chapter crewmen participated in a first-ever Cops-N-Bobbers fishing excursion last Thursday on Lake Riley.
Mayor Ron Case delivered Eden Prairie pins to the youth as well as perfect summer weather. After splitting the crew between two Let’s Go Fishing pontoons, the captains ushered their respective boats to their favorite fishing spots.
Sgts. Brent Dupont and John Wilson were on one boat, patrolmen Jayden DeVibiss and Spencer Barrie on the other. The kids came with various degrees of fishing experience.
“I caught a sunny once,” said one third-grader.
“I caught a northern this big,” said a friend, while extending his third-grade arms as wide as he could.
Seniors Enjoy Mix of Elements on Wall Lake
Blue skies and sunshine made it a perfect day to be on the water.
With the assistance of Let’s Go Fishing, four senior citizens from Fergus Falls went boating Wednesday afternoon on Wall Lake. They toured the shoreline of the entire lake before returning.
Three volunteer members and two Let’s Go Fishing volunteers — Arlin Schalekamp and Will Lindquist – set off on the cruise from a dock at Elk’s Point. The point is located on the eastern shore of the 726.67 acre lake, located three miles East of the city.
Dan Karst, who has acted as president of the Otter Tail County chapter of Let’s Go Fishing for the last 12 years, watched the group as their foray around Wall Lake began at 1pm. Sitting on the deck of a big Crestliner pontoon pushed by a Mercury outboard, the seniors and their aides, all in lifejackets, basking under a warm June sun.
Read the full story on The Daily Journal…
Want to spend some time on the water this summer?
Boating, fishing and water recreation are a huge part of life for people in the Detroit Lakes area.
But what about those who do not have ready access to the water, either due to decreased mobility, or a lack of someone to take them there?
“This will be our 12th season,” says Dave Hochhalter, one of the chapter’s founders, and its current treasurer.
The start of the 2019 fishing season may still be a few weeks away, but LGF already has over 80 trips scheduled, Hochhalter added; technology advancements on the chapter’s website, detroitlakes.lgfws.com, have made it easier than ever to do so.
Once a group is registered with the local LGF chapter’s scheduler, Betty Hochhalter, anyone in that group can go to the website and schedule a date and time from the list of available slots, he added.
“It’s just a matter of a couple clicks to schedule a trip,” Hochhalter continued. “Our volunteers can also see what trips are out there, put their name down and they’re booked for that day.”
Let’s Go Fishing – Bemidji has served more than 5,000
Let’s Go Fishing Bemidji was formed in 2005. Thanks to donations and grants we are able to offer this program in the Bemidji area. Since our inception, we have purchased and worn out our first pontoon and then purchased a second one.
This program offers seniors, handicapped, veterans and youth the opportunity to get back out on the water to fish or just enjoy a boat ride at no charge. Fishing trips and cruises are scheduled five days per week June through August, providing all equipment needed on our handicapped-accessible 26-foot pontoon. Most trips last 2-3 hours. All this is at no charge to the participant. Since inception, we have taken out over 5,000 people on the pontoon.
The mission of Let’s Go Fishing is to serve older adults, youth, veterans and disabled. Whether they are part of a housing community or still living in their residences, older adults benefit greatly from joining with others and taking a trip on the Let’s Go Fishing pontoon. We have had families taking out senior family members. Seniors doing what they remember doing and thought they would never be able to do it again. We have had individuals with serious health issues who find a reason to smile for the first time in months. Read the full story at Bemidji Pioneer…
Hook, Line and …
The Eden Prairie Area Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing, one of 20 such chapters in Minnesota and Wisconsin, got its start at the end of the 2012 season. Its vision is based on the notion that lives can be changed by experiencing the joy and freedom of being out on the water to fish or just enjoy the beauty of a Minnesota lake.
Last year alone, the Eden Prairie chapter guided a record 325 fishing excursions on Riley Lake. In August, it facilitated 450 pontoon rides as part of the city of Eden Prairie’s Riley Lake Park Grand Reopening.
Read the full story online at Eden Prairie News…
Ex-Viking Get’s Early Start on Giving Back
Thirty-one months after his last snap for the Vikings and about nine months after brain surgery, Mike Harris is living a full life.
After spending four NFL seasons throwing behemoths to the ground, the 29-year-old former offensive lineman is now focused on picking up people. Harris stays busy volunteering at Let’s Go Fishing in Eden Prairie, dabbling in jiujitsu and, as of this summer, coaching offensive linemen at Hopkins High School.
Let’s Go Fishing Serves More Than 10,000
Let’s Go Fishing- Itasca was formed in the fall of 2007. Thanks to donations and grants, the organization we were able to raise monies to purchase the first pontoon in the spring of 2008 and began to offer this program to our seniors, handicapped, veterans and youth at no charge. They schedule fishing trips and cruises 5-6 days per week in the morning, afternoon and evenings providing all equipment needed June through September on our handicapped accessible 25-foot pontoon. The month of May schedules are reserved for youth groups. All this at no charge to the participant.
The mission of Let’s Go Fishing Itasca is to continue to serve older adults, youth, veterans and disabled throughout Itasca County. Let’s Go Fishing has always had its core the desire to serve older adults in our community. Whether they are part of a housing community or individuals still living in their residences, older adults benefit greatly from joining with others and taking a morning or afternoon trip on the Let’s Go Fishing pontoon. We have had families taking out senior family members. A granddaughter who wanted to take grandpa fishing. Seniors doing what they remember doing and thought they would never be able to do it again. Read more at Herald Review….
Outdoor Elderly Activities
As written by Elder OneStop — People ask about the outdoors when we have nice weather, and no matter what season. Whether playing outdoor games, gardening, trying metal detecting, or visiting a park, there is always an activity to do outdoors, for almost anyone. Some ideas here are group outdoor activities, but some can be done solo as well.And many senior activities that were done inside during challenging weather can now simply be brought outside, such as clubs and crafts. You can get kids involved in several of these activities as well.
Boat rides – The water makes a great backdrop for outdoor elderly activities. Do you, or does anyone in your church or organization have a pontoon boat? If they are willing to assist for an afternoon, this is the manner of boating for seniors. Pontoons can also be rented. With a proper plank, even those in wheelchairs can access this type of boat. It would ideally have a covering. But there are also mini yachts and a variety of motor boats too.
Just about anything can be rented. Including a river boat excursion. Boats rides are wonderful outdoor elderly activities. All participants should also wear sunglasses and sunscreen, appropriate attire, and perhaps bring a water bottle. Snacks and beverages can be included. Depending on the size of the boat, other activities can be included, as well as…
Fishing – So many seniors enjoy and perhaps are skilled at fishing. And they love to share their fishing tips (and stories). Whether on a pier or pontoon, fishing boat, or from shore, this is a relaxing way to get outdoors and socialize. Bring along some food and drink. And make sure there is someone who knows how to handle the gear, hooks, and fish! And what about a fish fry afterwards? Bring your picnic gear too! Or get all the details, crafts, decor, activities for one of our most popular parties — a Gone Fishing party! (You can have it indoors too, in cold or gloomy weather).
We have lots more things to do outdoors on our pages for Spring Senior Activities, and also Summer Senior Activities — with special events and specific calendar dates too.
Read the full article at… ElderOneStop.com
Wellness and lifestyle activities build resident satisfaction
Residents in independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities* are highly satisfied with the quality of life at their communities in part because of their participation in a wellness program (fitness, activities and recreation), according to a new report. The research also found that these residents tend to stay in their communities for an average two years longer than other residents.
“These benchmark results are consistent with other large-scale studies ProMatura has completed,” said Margaret Wylde, Ph.D., CEO of ProMatura Group, which conducted the study with the International Council on Active Aging. “The data confirm that customers (residents) who continue to actively maintain their fitness, flexibility and interaction with others are happier with their lives and the community in which they live.”
The perceptions of nearly 3,000 residents surveyed about life at their communities in relation to their participation in a wellness program are included in the first ICAA/ProMatura Wellness National Benchmarks Report. Key points:
- In continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), 77% of the residents who have participated in a wellness program said they are satisfied/very satisfied with the program.
- 84% of the wellness participants in CCRCs said they are very satisfied/satisfied with their overall quality of life at the community. Forty-five percent of participating residents said that taking part in a wellness program has made them much more satisfied with their overall quality of life at the community.
- In communities offering independent living or a combination of independent plus assisted living, 84% of residents who participate in a wellness program said they are satisfied/very satisfied with it.
- 94% of the participating residents in independent living or independent plus assisted living properties said they are satisfied/very satisfied with their overall quality of life at the community, and 44% said that they are much more satisfied with their quality of life because of the community’s wellness program.
- Forty-eight percent of CCRC participants and 43% of participants in independent living or independent plus assisted living communities said they agree/strongly agree that the wellness program was one of the primary reasons they selected the particular community in which they live.
New data collected by benchmark communities found that wellness participants have lived an average of almost two years longer in independent living and assisted living and one year longer in memory care when compared with the average length of stay of all residents (both participants and nonparticipants).
“Communities that facilitate their customers’ desires to live well through fitness and health programs, equipment, experts and encouragement also engender greater loyalty and an enduring relationship with the customer,” Wylde said.
“Their findings have shown, and continue to support, the need for older adults to remain engaged in all aspects of life,” said Colin Milner, CEO of the ICAA. “Communities that allow their residents to stay engaged are well-positioned to be home for consumers who seek to live their lives, as best they can, no matter their abilities, situation or socioeconomic status.”
The ICAA/ProMatura Wellness Benchmarks National Report results are the aggregate of input from 62 CCRCs and 24 independent living or independent and assisted living communities. Included is a profile of the amenities offered in benchmark communities, average length of stay of wellness participants compared with the entire resident population, staffing ratios, residents’ self-rated health and resident’s perception of the value of the entire community. The 34-page national report is available by contacting the ICAA at (866) 335-9777, (604) 734-4466 or info@icaa.cc.