Weiser’s pond brings community together

As part of Weiser’s public parks system, Weiser’s Community Pond has become a popular draw in the area, and last week brought a couple of days of additional activity.

 Early in the week, Annex Charter School’s summer STEAM Camp arrived at the pond with 44 students climbing off the bus to take part in a two-hour nature study.

 Serving as the STEAM Camp principal since its inception four years ago, Joe Burris told the Signal American the month-long camp is an exploratory for students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. “This year we are doing themes for each week, and this week is our nature theme,” Burris said. “Our teachers decided to do a field trip to the pond, and we invited the Indianhead Fly Fishers to come and do some instructional stations.”

 Burris said students register for the annual camp, but daily attendance is “completely voluntary.”

 “It’s not a compulsory program at all, and today has been one of the best attended in the four years we’ve done the camp,” he said. “The kids range from going into first grade through incoming eighth graders.”

 Spending time with IFF members at the different stations, students were able to catch and take a closer look at insects that live around and in the pond, learn about the different species of fish they might catch at the pond, and then learn a little bit about casting a line.

 Burris described an upcoming week that will be centered on superheroes.

 “We have an artist in residence who will be working with them, helping them create their own cartoon character,” he said. “That will be our arts week.”

 Fly Fisher Mike Stanton said he had enjoyed the morning with the youngsters.

 “They seem to pay attention,” he said. “It’s been a great day.”

 Also on hand, Mike Thomas said the casting demonstrations were limited due to the growth of cattails around the pond.

 “We found out it’s hard to fish here right now, and it’s definitely time for Friday’s pond clean-up,” Thomas said.

Many hands, short work

 Friday morning rolled around, and by 9 a.m. the annual pond clean-up was underway. Just a little over an hour later, most of the overgrown cattails were cut and were being raked and hauled away.

 Joining the Fly Fishers in the effort were members of the Elks Lodge, City of Weiser crews, Arrow Heart Adventure Camp members, along with a good number of community members.

 Thomas was pleased with the turnout.

 “The Arrow Heart Adventure Camp kids showed up really well,” Thomas said. “Everything went well. Some of the grant money from the Mellon Foundation was used to buy lots of tools for down here, and a lot of people brought their own.

 “The cattails have really grown in here,” he said. “There’s probably twice as many this year as there has been in the past. They’re hard to get rid of because they’re in the water and if we spray them we’ll kill the fish.

 “The turnout has been really good,” he went on. “There’s at least 10 of us from the Fly club. We got two or three new members who haven’t been able to go fishing with us yet, and they’re down here working.”

 Thomas said the Elks have been involved with the pond since its beginning.

 “The Elks were responsible for the pier,” he said. “They got a federal grant to do that, and we got a federal grant to dig the hole in the ground. They’ve been a very important part of the pond.”

 Talking about the original collaborative effort, Thomas said the property had been donated by a group of local businessmen with investments in Weiser.

 “They owned a lot of properties here,” he said. “The only one left of that group is Kevin Jones, and he’s here and very active.”

 After a few years without a pond committee at the City, Thomas said a new committee has been established this year.”

 Thomas said he expected Idaho Fish and Game to be restocking the pond early this week in preparation for Saturday’s, June 14, Free Fishing Day.

 “If the water temperature is close to 70 degrees they won’t put trout in there because trout will not survive,” he said. “They probably already put 2,000 fish in it this spring. Usually about 500 at a time, once a month between February and May. As water gets warmer hopefully our little bluegill, the warmwater fish, will start taking over so the kids have something to catch in the summer, that and the large mouth bass. Then trout fishing will end until fall.”