CARE Event Request Information

Thank You for Your Interest in Partnering with the Fish with CARE Program

We sincerely appreciate your interest in collaborating with us at the Fish with CARE program. As Connecticut's fishing season is relatively short, we often receive more partnership requests than we have available fishing days. We strive to accommodate inquiries and so we encourage you to reach out to us a year in advance to increase your chances of partnership.

At Fish with CARE, we actively seek partnerships with non-profit, municipal, cultural, and faith-based organizations in offering fishing experiences throughout the state. We believe in fostering relationships that not only deliver a positive outdoor experience for your community members but also promote stewardship of our natural resources over the long-term. Due to resource limitations, we are unable to accommodate private event requests, as all Fish with CARE events are open to the general public.

If you are interested in partnering with us, please do the following:

1. Review the details on this webpage to familiarize yourself with the activities that the Fish with CARE program offers and the organizations we typically partner with.
2. Please complete and submit the Fish with CARE Event Request form to start the partnership process.

The Fish with CARE program hosts over 50 free fishing events each year across the state, reaching more than 5,000 new anglers. With your support, we can welcome even more individuals to the thrilling activity of fishing. We simply ask for your assistance in promoting these opportunities within your community.

Event Offerings: We provide two main types of events for the public: First Catch Center Fishing Events and an Outdoor Experience at the CARE Center in Forster Pond State Park.

First Catch Center Fishing Events

Our First Catch Center trailer travels to lakes and ponds in state and municipal parks loaded with all the essentials to provide a quality fishing experience. These 2-3 hour events are open to the general public, with registration hosted on our website and typically limited to 25 anglers (based on location). As a partner, we can reserve a select number of spots for your group to ensure participation. Our spring/summer schedule is set and published by late February, so we encourage groups to contact us in November/December of the prior year.

If a specific date/location already scheduled does not already have a partner assigned, there are still opportunities to collaborate. Please check the Fish with CARE Schedule of Classes and Events and reach out if any events are near your town.

A First Catch Center Fishing Event consists of a team of DEEP staff and certified volunteer fishing coaches arriving with our custom-wrapped First Catch Center trailer equipped with all necessary fishing tackle, gear, and bait to take a group of novice folks fishing. Additionally, we bring a fish taxidermy display to showcase and educate participants on identifying the popular sport fish in Connecticut, along with instructional pamphlets to help new anglers enhance their skills post-event. Our team is dedicated to ensuring a positive and successful fishing experience for all.

First Catch Center Events are open to adults and families with children 6 years of age and older. We welcome both novices and those needing a skills refresher. All youth 15 years and younger must always have an adult with them. Pre-registration is required and hosted by DEEP on our Hunting, Fishing, and Boating Education Registration System.

If you have a specific location in mind that is not on our schedule, we can evaluate its suitability for an event. We aim to provide an enjoyable and safe fishing experience, so certain conditions must be met:

• Accessibility to safe shoreline fishing for at least 20 anglers, free of aquatic plants, shoreline vegetation, and overhanging trees.
• Free and open public access to the park/waterbody.
• Parking for at least 15 vehicles, plus our First Catch Center trailer.
• Availability of bathroom facilities.

Outdoor Experience at the CARE Center in Forster Pond State Park

We also offer limited opportunities for outdoor experiences at our CARE Center in Forster Pond State Park (Killingworth), encompassing a group fishing trip, with the option of including archery, boating, and/or hiking (upon request and availability) from mid-June to mid-August. These field trips to the CARE Center in Forster Pond State Park are limited and there is a waiting list, so it is recommended that you submit a request at least a year in advance. Transportation to our site and food for lunch must be arranged by the group. We can typically accommodate a minimum of 40 and no more than 50 participants with a minimum age of 11 years old. We prioritize underserved populations, and in preparation for the event, participants must complete our online Introduction to Fishing course before attending the field trip.

What Does Partnership with Fish with CARE Entail?

As a partner, we provide co-branded marketing materials to help promote your events, available in both English and Spanish, along with copyable text for social media and print communication. We ask that you share this opportunity through your regular channels and engage your community. We handle registration and manage the fishing activities on the day of the event, ensuring that a specific number of slots are reserved for your group.

Types of Events We Do Not Do

The CARE Program is unable to participate in any of the following types of events.

• Non-public events
• Birthday parties
• Derbies or tournaments
• Stocking or selling trout

Additional Information

• Scout Events: For Boy Scout or Girl Scout activities, please reach out to the Scouting Fishing Council. If you are invested in teaching your scouts how to fish, we encourage you to become a Fish with CARE coach, where we provide you with the training necessary to support your scouts. We teach you, so you can teach your scouts. While we do not accommodate private scouting events, scouts are encouraged to join us at a First Catch Center event, as these events are open to the public on a first to register basis.
• Summer Camps / Day Camps: While we do not travel to camps, if your camp can provide transportation, it may be possible for you to participate in an Outdoor Experience at the CARE Center in Forster Pond State Park (Killingworth). There are a limited number of opportunities from mid-June to mid-August, and they are typically booked a year in advance. If you want to provide a fishing activity at your camp, we encourage you to have camp counselors join our volunteer Coach program. We will teach them the basics of fishing so they can teach and support your campers. We can provide loaner fishing equipment and support material if necessary. Learn more about our Fish with CARE Coach program. Prior to coming to our education center, campers are expected to take our online Introduction to Fishing course, so they have a basic knowledge of fishing.
• Park and Recreation Departments: We value partnerships with Park and Recreation departments and welcome opportunities to add suitable bodies of water in your community to our event schedule. Your role in this partnership would be to promote a local First Catch Center event to your community members. If we already have an event scheduled in or near your community, please reach out about partnering and we can reserve spots for your members. We can provide marketing materials and will host registration for all First Catch Center Events on the Hunting, Fishing, and Boating Education Registration System. Submit the Fish with CARE Event Request form to partner on a First Catch Center Event.
• Libraries / Community Centers: While we do not offer in-person fishing class sessions, we have developed online fishing courses for Connecticut anglers. We invite your community members to join us at a First Catch Center event for hands-on guidance. We value our partnerships with libraries and community centers and can provide you with marketing material to inform your community about local events. We host registration for all First Catch Center Events on the Hunting, Fishing, and Boating Education Registration System, making it easy for your staff. Submit the Fish with CARE Event Request form to partner on a First Catch Center Event.
• Become a Volunteer Fishing Coach: We invite individuals interested in providing fishing opportunities to private groups to apply to become a volunteer Fishing Coach for Fish with CARE. We offer comprehensive training and provide support with loaner fishing gear to facilitate easy teaching. We teach you all the basics of fishing, so that you can then teach others. More information about the Fish with CARE Coach program.
• Derbies and Tournaments: The Fish with CARE Program does not support fishing derbies or tournaments.
• Fish Stocking: State fish hatcheries do not sell fish for private stocking nor can we accommodate requests. You can find information on approved private hatcheries if you are interested in purchasing fish for private stocking.
• Fishing Classes: We offer a range of instructional fishing classes, primarily through our library of online fishing courses. Virtual sessions via Zoom on various fishing techniques (ice fishing, trout fishing, fly-fishing) are conducted seasonally. Please bookmark our Fish with CARE Schedule of Classes and Events for our offering. We do not offer private instructional classes.
• Birthday Parties/Celebrations: The Fish with CARE Program does not support private parties or event requests. However, groups can register to attend a First Catch Center event as they are open to the general public on a first to register basis.

We look forward to the possibility of working together to promote outdoor experiences that foster a love for fishing and environmental stewardship within our communities.

Please contact the CARE Program with any questions. 

E-mail: deep.learntofish@ct.gov

Content last updated in February 2025.