Life lessons at the forefront of youth fishing event

ON THE WATER THIS MORNING. THEY’RE TEACHING YOUNGER TRIBAL MEMBERS HOW TO FISH. MENTORS OF THE GROUP SAY IT GOES BEYOND THAT. THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT TRIBE VALUES AND GIVING KIDS LIFE SKILLS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S KYLE LARSON REPORTS. WE TRY TO GET KIDS ON THE WATER RIGHT HERE. JUST BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. YOUTH MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA’S PONCA TRIBE LEARNING AT THE HANDS OF MENTORS. BEN SCHOTT IS ONE OF THOSE MENTORS. GIVES US A OPPORTUNITY TO JUST LEARN FROM OUR LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OURSELVES AND JUST BE A LEADER FOR THOSE TO GIVE THEM SOME INSPIRATION TO DO THE SAME. HOPEFULLY. SUNDAY MORNING WAS THE FOURTH YEAR IN OMAHA FOR THE REAL MENTORS YOUTH FISHING EVENT. RON KERBY STARTED THE EVENT IN FLORIDA NINE YEARS AGO. HE SAYS WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP, HE COULDN’T AFFORD A FISHING POLE. NOW HE CAN AND HE PAYS HIS EXPERIENCES FORWARD WITH HIS LONGTIME FRIEND BOB VOGT. I REALLY LIKE PASSING ON WHAT I’VE LEARNED OVER THE TIME VOGT STARTED THE DAY BY TEACHING THE KIDS HOW TO TIE KNOTS, THEN CASTING LESSONS FINALLY TO THE BANKS. MATT JACKMAN WAS ALSO ON HAND TO HELP OUT. IT’S DEEPER THAN FISHING FOR JACKMAN. TALK TO HIM ABOUT LIFE, DIFFERENT LIFE SKILLS AND JUST GET THEM EDUCATED AND INSPIRED, VOLTZ SAYS. HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS ON THAT KNOWLEDGE TO GIVE LIFE SKILLS ISN’T SOMETHING HE TAKES FOR GRANTED. SO IT’S A BLESSING TO COME OUT HERE AND PASS OUR KNOWLEDGE ON TO THESE KIDS. FOR CHARLOTTE WATCHING ON AS THESE KIDS CAST THEIR POLES AND REEL IN SOME FISH SHOULDN’T DISTRACT FROM LEARNING THE PONCA VALUES THEY CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM THOSE OLDER THAN ME AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BE WITH OTHERS AROUND THEM AND TALK ABOUT OUR CULTURE AND LEARN ABOUT OUR CULTURE IS REALLY IMPORTAN

Ponca youth learned how to fish at the hands of older tribe members Sunday at Gretna's Schramm Park. It was the fourth year the event has been held in Omaha.Ron Suverkrubbe started the event nine years ago in Florida. Sunday he and his fellow Reel Mentors gathered kids to teach them how to tie line onto a hook, cast a pole and put them on the shores of a pond to attempt to catch fish."We try to get kids on the water," Suverkrubbe said.Ben Schott is a member of Ponca Tribe Youth Council. He was at Sunday's event and praises the event for allowing him to give back and hopefully inspire."It just gives us an opportunity to learn from the experience from ourselves and be a leader to give them some inspiration to do the same hopefully," Schott said.The day went step-by-step. First, kids learned to tie knots. They then went into the field to work on casting and reeling. Then they went to the pond to put their new skills in action.Matt Jackman was on hand to help the kids and said while the event is fun you can't forget why you're together."Talk to them about life, give them life skills and get them educated and inspired," Jackman said.Bob Vogt has been fishing his whole life - he and Suverkrubbe grew up together and used to fish with sticks because they couldn't afford poles. To be able to host and attend events such as Sundays is special for Vogt."It's a blessing to come out here and pass knowledge onto these kids," Vogt said.Learn more about Reel Mentors by following this link.Learn more about the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska by following this link.

GRETNA, Neb. —

Ponca youth learned how to fish at the hands of older tribe members Sunday at Gretna's Schramm Park. It was the fourth year the event has been held in Omaha.

Ron Suverkrubbe started the event nine years ago in Florida. Sunday he and his fellow Reel Mentors gathered kids to teach them how to tie line onto a hook, cast a pole and put them on the shores of a pond to attempt to catch fish.

"We try to get kids on the water," Suverkrubbe said.

Ben Schott is a member of Ponca Tribe Youth Council. He was at Sunday's event and praises the event for allowing him to give back and hopefully inspire.

"It just gives us an opportunity to learn from the experience from ourselves and be a leader to give them some inspiration to do the same hopefully," Schott said.

The day went step-by-step. First, kids learned to tie knots. They then went into the field to work on casting and reeling. Then they went to the pond to put their new skills in action.

Matt Jackman was on hand to help the kids and said while the event is fun you can't forget why you're together.

"Talk to them about life, give them life skills and get them educated and inspired," Jackman said.

Bob Vogt has been fishing his whole life - he and Suverkrubbe grew up together and used to fish with sticks because they couldn't afford poles. To be able to host and attend events such as Sundays is special for Vogt.

"It's a blessing to come out here and pass knowledge onto these kids," Vogt said.

Learn more about Reel Mentors by following this link.

Learn more about the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska by following this link.

Life lessons at the forefront of youth fishing event

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