More than 30 children and their families flocked Saturday to the docks of Fort McAllister State Historic Park for a kids crabbing event.
Participants were provided with baskets and bait and were taught how to catch the crawly critters. They spent the day out on the docks, enjoying the sun and waiting for unsuspecting crabs to crawl into the baskets holding raw chicken as bait.
And while 35 kids turned out for the event, the crabs were harder to entice, with less than 10 caught all afternoon.
Leia Williams, 6, attended with her grandfather, Otis Willis, who commended the park for its efforts.
“We’re having a very good time,” said Willis. “We really appreciate the park for doing this. It’s been a great day.”
The crabbing day was organized by Jess Waldrop, an intern at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and student at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
He said he came up with the idea for a children’s crabbing day during a previous internship with the DNR.
“I went on a kids fishing trip and thought a crabbing day would be a good idea,” Waldrop explained. “It’s inexpensive, teaches kids to crab, and then they can go out again and do it on their own.”
The event was the first of its kind at Fort McAllister, but Waldrop said he hopes it becomes a tradition at the park.
“It would be great if they did this every year,” he said. “It’s a great way for kids and families to learn a skill and have fun.”
Participants were provided with baskets and bait and were taught how to catch the crawly critters. They spent the day out on the docks, enjoying the sun and waiting for unsuspecting crabs to crawl into the baskets holding raw chicken as bait.
And while 35 kids turned out for the event, the crabs were harder to entice, with less than 10 caught all afternoon.
Leia Williams, 6, attended with her grandfather, Otis Willis, who commended the park for its efforts.
“We’re having a very good time,” said Willis. “We really appreciate the park for doing this. It’s been a great day.”
The crabbing day was organized by Jess Waldrop, an intern at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and student at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
He said he came up with the idea for a children’s crabbing day during a previous internship with the DNR.
“I went on a kids fishing trip and thought a crabbing day would be a good idea,” Waldrop explained. “It’s inexpensive, teaches kids to crab, and then they can go out again and do it on their own.”
The event was the first of its kind at Fort McAllister, but Waldrop said he hopes it becomes a tradition at the park.
“It would be great if they did this every year,” he said. “It’s a great way for kids and families to learn a skill and have fun.”