Olympia, WA - The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to attend kids’ fishing derbies at Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island and Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano. The fishing derbies are both scheduled for June 9 at Cama Beach State Park, 1880 S.W. Camano Drive, Camano Island and at Lake Sylvia State Park 1812 Lake Sylvia Road in Montesano. Children of all levels of fishing experience may try their hand at saltwater or lake fishing. Both derbies are free and open to children ages 15 years of age and younger. Anglers must take along their own equipment. The Discover Pass is not required to attend these events; June 9 is a State Parks “free day” in conjunction with National Get Outdoors Day. The Lake Sylvia kids’ fishing derby runs from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the park kitchen shelter. Anglers may participate in a pancake breakfast or begin fishing on Lake Sylvia. Breakfast is $3 per person. Prizes will be awarded to winners of each age group at noon. The event is presented in partnership with the Montesano Moose Lodge. For more information, call (360) 249-3621. Lake Sylvia State Park is a camping park with freshwater shoreline along Lake Sylvia. The park began as an old logging camp in a wooded area halfway between Olympia and the Pacific Coast. The lake was formed by damming up Sylvia Creek for the purpose of log ponding and power production. The 233-acre camping park is popular with anglers with its creek-fed lake that is stocked annually with rainbow trout. There are two rail-trails located in the park. One of the trails includes a wooden bridge built just above the elevation of the water. The boardwalk bridge makes a great location for fishing.
The Cama Beach kids’ fishing derby runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event begins with the program, “How to fish in saltwater,” which teaches beginning anglers fishing basics. Prizes will be awarded to derby winners in each age group and to the first 30 children registered to participate. Limited fishing gear will be available for purchase. Rowboat rentals are $20 during the event. This event is presented by The Center for Wooden Boats in partnership with Washington State Parks and Recreation and the Cama Beach Foundation. To register or for more information, visit www.cwb.org/2012fishingderby. ; Cama Beach State Park is a 433-acre historic fishing resort with more than 6,000 feet of rocky beach. The park provides sweeping views of Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountain Range. The area now known as Cama Beach State Park was used for centuries by Native Americans for fishing and hunting. It was later developed into a fishing resort, popular with families for more than 50 years, before becoming a state park in 1994 through a combination of property donation and sale.
June is Washington State Great Outdoors Month. Enjoy Washington’s many recreational activities and celebrate the month dedicated to environmental stewardship and the appreciation of the outdoors. Many state parks will play host to a variety of events in June. For information about events at Washington state parks, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events. Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks.
The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
Support state parks by purchasing your Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
| 