Sand Springs Students Taught Joy Of Fishing

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- There's an old Chinese proverb - Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

A Sand Springs middle school teacher takes his students fishing, hoping to teach them a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.

Several hundred yards down river from Keystone Dam, a place called Swift Park, was Dave Campbell's classroom Tuesday.

"If I can get one of these kids to fish rather than run the streets after school, or sit and play video games, it's worth it," said David Campbell, a Sand Springs teacher.

Dave Campbell is a veteran teacher at Clyde Boyd Middle School in Sand Springs. For five years he has been the alternative education teacher.

Working with kids who, for whatever reason, have difficulty in a regular classroom. So, in addition to traditional learning, they're being taught a life sport -- fishing.

"We went to the Oklahoma Aquarium first to look at the species that we might catch," said Campbell.

There's classroom work on the equipment. They practice casting techniques on the football field. Then, they go fishing.

On Tuesday, Campbell had 10 kids fishing. There was a lot of fishing going on, but no indication the birds were having any better luck than the kids.

For Campbell, the day involves lots of rebating minnows or retying jigs, but he doesn't care. It's a beautiful day on the river. What could be better than teaching kids to fish?

"It's just a part of my life. It's my relaxation," said Campbell.

This is all about passing that joy on to someone else.

Campbell says Zebco has been a big supporter of the program, as well as other sport fishing organizations from all over the country.