NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 26, 2019) – Park rangers at Dale Hollow Lake recently teamed up with partner agencies to emphasize the importance of water safety with youngsters attending the Seventh Annual Wilderness Day Camp along the Obey River below Dale Hollow Dam in Celina, Tenn.
At the Dale Hollow Dam Pavilion July 11, Park Rangers Hailey Boles and Bobby Bartlett taught water safety, boating safety, and stressed to kids that the number one thing they can do on the water to stay safe is to properly wear a Life Jacket.
“I love doing events like this with the children. This provides us an opportunity to interact with them, get outdoors and gain an appreciation for water and nature when recreating at area lakes,” said Boles. “We want them to understand the importance of water safety and practice it daily when they are recreating on the water with their families.”
Hosted by the Friends of Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, the Wilderness Day Camp is a partnership of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee State Parks, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.
Paul Boyce, president of the Friends of Dale Hollow Lake Fish Hatchery, said the children spent time at six activity stations and practiced BB-gun and archery target shooting, received water safety education, held snakes, took part in outdoor cooking, and learned about pin-and fly-rod casting.
Corps of Engineers park rangers also contributed to two of the six stations with a boating safety presentation and a lesson on life jackets, and the importance of water safety.
“This is a great collaboration for us to interact with other agencies from around the lake and we’re out here promoting water safety around the lakes,” said Bartlett. “We try to prevent drownings and give the best information possible to folks who visit our booth.”
“It is really nice for us to be a part of this annual program to help foster waster safety, nature, and help them learn about nature and protecting the environment for our future generations,” said Boles. “I feel it is a great achievement and the overall knowledge these kids will leave with today is priceless.”
Lunch was provided for the children and presenters by the non-profit group the Friends of Dale Hollow Lake Fish Hatchery.
Tara Roberts lives across the road from the dam has participated in several wilderness camps and escorted her two children for a fun-filled day of activities.
“This is a perfect camp for my kids because it provides the opportunity for them to get outdoors and learn about nature, protecting the environment how to shoot and properly fish,” said Roberts.”
The event ended with the children having a picnic in the shade while sharing stories of their adventures from the day and sharing their adventures with chaperones.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. The public can also follow Dale Hollow Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dalehollowlake)