Program Updates:

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Cast & Connect Registration is open for our '26 Fall Session. See form below! ​

 

See new updated 8-week Schedule w/ Partners & Locations HERE!

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Want to sponsor Cast & Connect? Click HERE!

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PARENT UPDATE: Cast & Connect is designed to be flexible for busy families! Students do not need to attend every session. We ask that enrolled students make every effort to participate in at least 3 to 4 of our 8 program sessions, plus our Cast & Connect Awards Dinner on Tuesday, November 3, if possible. Of course, we’d love to see students at as many sessions as they can attend!​

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Why Cast & Connect? 

Across Maryland, a growing number of middle and high school students

report persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and social isolation. At the

same time, thousands of students with different abilities require more

inclusive environments that support both emotional and developmental

growth. Traditional settings don’t always work for every child.

That’s where Cast & Connect comes in. 

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Lucky & Blessed Fishing (LABF) is inviting middle & high school school

students from across Anne Arundel County to participate in our Fall 2026

Cast & Connect Youth Wellness Program.  

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Cast & Connect is a 8-week outdoor wellness and mentorship program using fishing, nature, environmental education, and positive relationships to help students spend more time outdoors, make new friends, build confidence, and take a healthy break from phones, social media, video games, and everyday stress.

 

Sessions will be 8 consecutive Tuesdays, Sept 15 - Nov 3, 2026, 4:30p-6:30p with the last date being our Program Wrap Celebration and appreciation Dinner for all our participants their families and our amazing collaborative partners. The awards dinner will be later to accommodate families schedules (6:30p-8:30p).

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A major theme of Cast & Connect is removing social barriers. Around the water, we want students to leave behind the labels, groups, and categories that can separate them at school. Students from different schools, backgrounds, abilities, and social circles participate together as one group, discovering what they have in common through shared outdoor experiences.

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Who Can Participate?​

• Middle & High school age students (Grades 6–12)

• High School & College Students can support through Student Mentor Program

• Students from public, private, homeschool, church, and community programs

• Approximately 20 students for the Fall pilot

• Schools/groups are encouraged to refer 3–6 students

• No fishing or outdoor experience is required

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Who Would Be a Good Fit?

Students who could benefit from:​

• More time outdoors and away from screens

• Positive adult and peer mentorship

• New friendships outside their normal social circles

• Increased confidence and independence

• Breaking down social barriers and feeling a stronger sense of belonging

• A positive outlet for everyday stress

• Trying something new in a supportive environment

• Fishing, nature, and environmental education

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* LABF programs are always ALL Abilities, so students with IEPs and students with different abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate. Cast & Connect is intentionally designed to bring students together rather than separate them by ability, school, background, or social category. Think... "The Breakfast Club Movie" socially breaking down barriers but through fishing, building relationships and outdoor learning. ​​​

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Remove Social Barriers

Our program goals:

• Break Social Barriers

• Build New Friendships

• Reduce Isolation

• Increase Confidence

• Connect Beyond Screens

• Build a Sense of Belonging

• Bring All Abilities Together

• Create Community Through the Outdoors

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LABF wants to measure whether students develop new relationships with peers

outside their usual social groups and feel more comfortable connecting with people

of different backgrounds and abilities.

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Measuring the Impact

Students will complete brief pre- and post-program assessments to help LABF

measure changes in outdoor activity, recreational screen time, confidence, social

connections, sense of belonging, wellness, and environmental awareness.​

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This is more than fishing.
It’s access.
It’s inclusion.
It’s connection.​

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Interested?

We are only enrolling 20 students so please complete the application below to be included in this exciting new program pilot and RSVP for any and all events you can make at www.labfishing.org/events. 

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Schools, counselors, teachers, social workers, student-support teams, and families are encouraged to share this opportunity with middle & high school students who could benefit. Questions? Call 443-852-4589!

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Cast & Connect. Different schools. Different abilities. Different backgrounds. One community by the water.

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