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We work with kids of all ages and
backgrounds to teach them fishing. We share your love of the outdoors with
the kids and take them fishing.
Some kids can afford the trips and
the equipment but many can not afford to go except because of the generous
donations of people like you.
We have had people donate money,
boats big and small, equipment, time and their talent to this worthwhile non
profit organization.
Imagine if you opened your tackle box
and it was empty. You would simply go down to Bass Pro shop and buy more.
These kids do not have that option. Won't you share the gift of fishing with
them?
Wow!! What a fantastic trip.
In February we took our youth and adult volunteers up to the Okee Tannie
campsite at lake Okeechobee. Most of our youth have been fishing with us for
year. We have had the chance to see them grow. This trip had been in the
planning stages for the past three months with the help of sponsors and
volunteers. So for the most part our youth already understood how to tie a
knot, cast a rod and reel, identify what type of fish they will be looking
to catch and what rules and guide lines to follow.
You see we teach a clinic
that covers those basics and more. You can register your child to take that
clinic at Bass Pro Shop or we can come to your school, church or
organization.
We found that only a few of
our kids have had the camping out experience. The group wanted to get their
feet wet on a camping trip. Two of our club members Jeff Cooper and Willie
Curry have been camping and fishing for years. These men who love to share
their love of the great outdoors were the lead advisors for this trip. These
guys had stoves, lanterns, tents, portable tables, coolers and what every we
needed these members had it. One week before the trip they found out the 10
man tent they had was not working. We needed another tent. That is when Ms.
Kathleen Elliott went into action and she contacted Bass Pro Shops. They
were able to help her out with the size tent that we needed. Please tell
them the next time you are in the store how much their generosity meant to
the group.
Kathleen had already
contacted Winn Dixie for food. They were happy to provide the hot dogs, buns
and breakfast food for the group. Tell them thanks as well. Florida Fish
provided the rods, reels and a grant for the transportation. As you can see
there was an outpouring of community support. You also can support this
effort by making a donation to Mahogany Youth Corporation.
Originally we planned to
leave Friday night after school. We soon realized that one of our senior
youth; Anthony Parker was on his way home for spring break and would miss
the bus if we left on Friday. So we decided we could leave early sat morning
so he would get a chance to go.
This was beautiful day to be out driving. We rode up Highway 27. The
breeze was nice and cool. The van we rented floated down the highway. Our
first stop was to catch bait. We caught grass shrimp and after a couple of
good scoops we were on our way. A few kids got out of the car to watch us
gather bait, while others laid in the van trying to get a few hours extra
sleep. Because they had stayed up all night laughing, talking about the trip
they were already tired but very excited.
Our second stop was the gas
station where we notice how high priced the gas was.
Your donation can help pay for
the gas for our next trip. We stopped at the Pahokee Pier to let the
kids get a view of the lake. (Wow! It looks like a ocean.) We drove by
Canal Point, and then past Sand Cut. It did not look like it took us long
before we were driving into the Okee Tannie Campsite.
The youth team started
setting up the tents while I prepared lunch. In order to cook the gazebo was
set up and the cooking utensils were brought out. We had boiled hot dogs and
potatoes chips with juice. After lunch everyone unpacked. Willie and Jeff
prepared the boats for fishing. The next thing to do was break out the
loaner poles and tackle boxes. We were going fishing. Woo Hoo!!
Contact Us At 305 216 4068
Robert O’ Bryant –
President & Founder
Kathleen Elliott - Vice
President
Mailing Address
Mahogany Outdoors
P.O. Box 381305
Miami, Fl 33238
Email: robryant@mahoganyoutdoors.com
Tel.: 305 216 4068
It is simple you can
donate online. or by mail.
Simply mail your tax deductible check to
Mahogany Youth Corporation,
P.O. Box 381305
Miami Florida, 33238
or call 305 216 4068 and we will come and pick up
your donation of a boat, equipment etc.
We want to thank the following sponsors:
Winn Dixie,
Wendy's Hamburgers,
Fish Florida
And Mahogany Outdoors our parent organization for all of
their generous support. WWW.Mahoganyoutdoors.com
We are going to the keys to camp next month. Won't you join us. Simply
email us at mahoganyyouth@mahoganyoutdoors.com
Okie Tanni
The youth were ready by 5:30 a.m. We picked up the
group in a fifteen-passenger van.
Willie and Jeff drove their trucks with their boats
hanging out of the trucks. It was a beautiful morning a little rain but
nothing to worry about.
Our newest club member Deborah Carr had been
promising that she would go with us on the next trip and was ready to
go. One mom almost did not make it because her son, one of our youth had
seen a shooting of a classmate take place at his school. He was
devastated. He still wanted to go camping so his mom, Donna, tagged
alone for extra support.
This was beautiful day to be out driving. We rode
up Highway 27. The breeze was nice and cool. The van we rented floated
down the highway. Our first stop was to catch bait. We caught grass
shrimp and after a couple of good scoops we were on our way. A few kids
got out of the car to watch us gather bait, while others laid in the van
trying to get a few hours extra sleep. Because they had stayed up all
night laughing, talking about the trip they were already tired but very
excited. We then went down to the bank of the water for a little
casting, knot tying and fishing safety before the fishing event later
that night.
After we broke in the rods and reels everyone was back in
camp. While cleaning up after lunch, I happen to mossy by the
tents where little Mike who had been stressed out from his ordeal at
school was sound asleep. I went back a few times to check on him and he
was asleep like a log. We could have fished then but I decided to let
him get the chance to rest. Wow. What a difference a little fresh air makes.
Within the hour Mike would be up jumping up and down in the tent with
the other boys.
The older boys were coming back with their
catch for dinner. Jeff and Willie had taken Terrence and Antwane fishing
in the boats and they were coming in with their catch. They
caught big bluegills and shell crackers. Within the hour the fish were
cleaned and ready for the deep fryer. We put a big pot of grits on and fried the
fish. An open air fish fry was just the ticket. A few kids did not eat
fish so we had homemade chicken stew for them. Later that night after
cleaning up the dishes, (paper plates) we prepared for the late night speck trip. Everyone piled in the van and away we went. The
drive to the fishing area took about fifteen minutes. We drove down a
long, bumpy, dark road. I pulled over to the parking spot and we proceed
to get out of the van. No one would move until we
had some lantern lights on. We walked down the long dark path. It was
just like a ghost story that you tell around the campfire.
As we came to the boats. It was like 42nd St back there, the lights
from the boats were lighting up the entire area. The rods and reels went
out. The bait we tried first was minnows then Grass shrimp, worms but
nothing was working. Marcus the opening it got
brighter, we could see the water lit up with all types
Turner even had a grasshopper to
no avail. The fish were not biting.
This is what we were looking to catch.
Then it happened. Young Mike Turner wins
with the
first speck. It was tough fishing. Later, Kathleen drove up and fished
with us but even she did not catch any fish that night. Anthony Parker
caught two fish. Since we were not catching anything one by one everyone
wanted to get back to the tent. We all went to bed. The next
morning we got up early and made a great breakfast of pancakes, eggs and
sausage. After breakfast we did a little more fishing. We fished on the
other side of the river and everyone caught fish too small to
take home. Even so it worked and they enjoyed it. Looking forward to the
next trip. The kids laughed and joked all the way home.
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| What a great way to spend the weekend. |
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| Previous Fishing Clinic at Gwen Cherry Park |
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Our fearless leader hard at work preparing breakfast. |
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| Taking a break from the hard work of fishing. |
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Robert O’ Bryant –
President & Founder
Kathleen Elliott - Vice
President
Mailing Address
Mahogany Outdoors
P.O. Box 381305
Miami, Fl 33238
Email: robryant@mahoganyoutdoors.com
Tel.: 305 216-4068.
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Mahogany Youth Camping and Fishing
Trip - We All Had A Wonderful Time Both Kids And Adults - Join Us in 2010