Dream casters update:

[Jennie@ifish]

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Good News! We have kids! Thanks to all of you that sent contacts and agencies to us. We have kids from the foster care network, a youth guidance group, and on Tuesday we will know who and how many we have from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland. As with any event we will have boaters that confirmed and kids that have confirmed that do not come. We will have enough kids that even with some no-shows we will be able to use all of our volunteers and boats.

Here are some last minute details:

1. Please put in as early as possible at either Meldrum Bar, Cedar Oak Boat Ramp in West Linn, Sportscraft Marina in Oregon City or Clackamette Park in Oregon City and register no later than 8:00 a.m. (Some Shad fisherman are in as early as 4:00 a.m. to secure their “favorite” spot.) Please park, launch and find your favorite fishing spot by anchoring, drop your floats ‘marking your spot’ (depending on your anchor set up) and then come to the dock, or you sleds with pumps put it on the gravel near the Dream Casters motor home at Meldrum Bar Park Harbor. You will have to tie up temporarily or have your helper stay in the boat while you register at the motor home immediately adjacent to the boat ramp with the big Dream Casters banners on it! Or, you can register first and then put your boat in but being able to have our group anchor in the same vicinity will become more and more difficult as the morning progresses and is not recommended. Registration consists of signing in, picking up your nametag as well as picking up your flag to identify your boat as a Dream Casters boat. It will also include a schedule giving instructions when you should approach the Meldrum Bar boat ramp dock to pick up your kids and when you should return them. (There is a staggered schedule) When the kids are brought to you for boarding you will be introduced and you will receive all the lunches for your boat. Something you might think of is anchoring early, fishing to make sure you’re “In the Slot,” and CATCHING shad, then toss the anchor rode overboard (with appropriate floats!) and come and sign on in!

2. Please make sure your boat is fully “legal”. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s department is dedicating one boat to “visit” with our boaters and talk to the kids as well as to pass out any handouts they have.


3. Bring your camera! We will have some photographs taken from Ken’s boat as well as on and around the staging, motor home, dock area, but we would love to get great photos from inside the individual boats as well.

4. Keep in mind the kids may need bathroom breaks. There will be volunteers that will be keeping an eagle eye on the dock and will be there to assist the kids out of the boat, to the bathroom and back to the boat.

5. Please bring any extra life jackets you can (50lbs and up, youth and adult sizes) marked with your names to the registration table at 8:00 a.m. They will be returned to you after the kids are back on the dock. ***The kids must wear their lifejackets*** It is highly recommended that everyone on board wear lifejackets.

6. The lunches will include one beverage. Please bring extra fluids (especially water and low sugar, low sodium drinks to avoid dehydration) for you and your passengers.

7. Remember, we are teaching the catch and release method of fishing.

8. We were not able to obtain donations of hats, t-shirts or lures. Be sure to stock up on Flicker Spinners and Dick Nites! Depending on the current, 2-4 oz. cannonball sinkers work best. We suggest you have a couple of 5’s or bigger just in case you’re in a fast water area. Oregon Tackle Mfg. donated enough 3 & 4 oz. cannonball’s for about 3 of each size per boat. They will be available at the registration area.

9. Bring either hand wipes or soap and water and towels or paper towels for the kids so they can wash their hands with after handling the Shad and before lunch.


Press releases have gone to all the major and not so major TV stations. We did a telephone interview with Bill Monroe who is highlighting our event in an article in this Sunday’s Oregonian. You may get inquiries from other boaters/fisherman. Please send them to the motor home and a volunteer will get their name and number for future event participation.

On a serious note, we have a few “housekeeping” items that we must mention. Each child participating will be required to have a parent or guardian sign a liability release as well as a photograph release. Keep in mind that some of these children have been abused emotionally, verbally, sexually and physically. It is extremely important that you avoid physical contact or the appearance of physical contact. (We will ask the parent or guardian to have already put sunscreen on the kids) We might be tempted to pat them on the back or shoulder etc. but a high-five during an exciting catch may be the extent of appropriate touching. Additionally, do not be alone with the kids. Make sure your helper is on board at all times when the children are in your boat. Many of these agencies do not ordinarily release kids to volunteers that have not have background checks but seem to be willing to give us try this year. Some of the kids may actually have their guardian or foster parent come on board as well. Most agencies have indicated the kids will willingly go on the boats with our volunteers without their guardians. We have spent an average of 10 hours each building relationships with these agency contacts. It has taken a huge investment in time and patience to build the trust that we’ve achieved to get these kids. We have communicated to these agencies and foster parents that we are confident in our volunteers and that we are dedicated to our mission of enhancing these kids’ lives. Modeling a safe, fun, learning atmosphere is what we are all about!

Please contact us at dream-casters@dream-casters.org or by calling 503-655-5585 if you have any questions or need driving directions to the boat ramps.

We will see all of you “Confirmed Boat Volunteers” next weekend, June 2d, at our exciting first annual Dream Casters fishing event!