This interview originally aired on "In the Moment" on SDPB Radio.
After a couple of COVID-19-related bumps, Harlon Hendrick was able to get his after-school activity off the ground and on the water. The Spearfish Middle School fishing club combines two of his passions: teaching and fishing.
And Hendrick isn't done yet. He has more plans to expand the club, including through ice fishing and fly fishing trips. He's also planning on having fishing gear available for students to check out over weekends. This, he hopes, will get more families outdoors enjoying the Black Hills' rivers and lakes, as well as each other's company.
The club is funded in part by a grant from the Spearfish Foundation for Public Education.
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Lori Walsh
At basketball, students can learn athleticism and coordination at student government policy basics. Well, at fishing club, students get hooked on an outdoor afterschool activity. Harlan Hendrick is a teacher at Spearfish Middle School. He started the school's fishing club in 2020 with some tackle boxes, reels and rods, and a passion for the hobby. And Mr. Hendrick is with us on the phone now. Harlan, how are you?
Harlon Hendrick
Doing great, thank you.
Lori Walsh
Tell me a little bit where this idea came from in the first place.
Harlon Hendrick
Well, I was working at another school district a couple of years ago, and I do a lot of fishing myself. And I had friends from the high school that I knew that I fished with, and they said, "We need a club. We need something when we all get together." And I got to thinking about it. So I set it all up and then COVID hit and that was the end of that.
Lori Walsh
Well, it seems like COVID would be a great time to go fishing here.
Harlon Hendrick
Well, last year, I got hired here, so I brought the idea with me and then working in the middle school setting, it's just awesome. The kids are energetic, and I thought this would be a great idea here.
Lori Walsh
I want to jump in here and just ask you, some of them are coming from zero experience in fishing, even though they live in the Black Hills. Where do you begin helping them feel safe and comfortable?
Harlon Hendrick
Well, in the class, we do basics and we do get into more advanced techniques. Also, we have gear here that's been donated and we also get out and do some fishing too. So we go over the basics to get them going, and then it's a lot of one-on-one type of interaction.
Lori Walsh
How important is community involvement or having the community of the school and the community of Spearfish be supportive of the fishing club?
Harlon Hendrick
I can't say enough about how I've been supported in the fishing club. I have individuals, I have organizations, foundations that have got behind this, that have donated both materials, funds. I have two individuals that have let us fish their property. So it's an overwhelming, really, the support I've had. It really makes a difference, makes a program as good as it can be when you have everybody pitching in.
Lori Walsh
Tell me a good fishing story of somebody with their first catch and their reaction.
Harlon Hendrick
Oh, I can tell you a couple of them like that. I've got pictures on my phone. The kids were really excited. One of our trips we took this year, we went to Lindstad Trout Hatchery, right here on the outskirts of town, and he took us through a tour of his hatchery and explained how it all works. And it was awesome. But he also has two holding ponds there that he allowed us to fish. A couple of those kids, that was their first fish ever. It was awesome. A fishing trip with my fishing club is kind of like herding cats. It's wild. It's fun. And we had one kid netting and another "Oh yeah, I've got one." It was quite the day. They really had fun. And this year, we've expanded that into ice fishing also.
Lori Walsh
Nice.
Harlon Hendrick
My first ice fishing outing, I had 12 students and five adults, and they caught their first fish, ice fishing, and just lots of fun. Lots of fun.
Lori Walsh
Well, this club is funded in part by a grant from the Spearfish Foundation for Public Education. Harlan Hendrick is a teacher at the Spearfish Middle School. We've been talking about their fishing club. Mr. Hendrick, thank you so much.
Harlon Hendrick
Thank you for having me. I sure appreciate it.
Lori Walsh
I'll talk to you again in the future.
