FAF Executive Director Nick Schmal, NPAA #123, spent July 22nd at Discovery World on Milwaukee’s lakefront with Fish, Fish, Fish! ® summer campers in Grades 3-5. This was the second week long camp held at Discovery World that introduced 17 participants on how to help prevent the spread of invasive species using the Clean Drain Dry message. Schmal also showed the campers how to identify popular sport fish, helped with fish ink printing, and showed the students the live underwater salmon cam from Mendenhall, Alaska (from the USDA Forest Service Nature Watch program). Schmal participated in a question and answer session and was asked: what was the biggest fish he ever caught? “That had to be my 8 foot long sailfish I caught and released while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico,” Nick responded. He showed them a picture of the sailfish from his smartphone.

The campers also learned how to become ichthyologists by getting up close and personal with incredible fish in Discovery World’s Reiman Aquarium and explored how the Aquarium runs, and set various types of traps in Lake Michigan. They even learned how to build a terrarium to take home. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lakeshore State Park staff taught the campers how to fish. Each camper received a Pro-Angler t-shirt and spinning rod and reel combo compliments of NPAA and FAF. They also received a State Fish Art cd, Protect Your Waters brochures, and Invaders of the Great Lakes books compliments of Wildlife Forever, a NPAA and Future Anger Foundation Non-profit partner.

Discovery World provides fun and educational experiences through interactive exhibits and educational programs for families and students in Milwaukee, the region, and the state of Wisconsin. They generate excitement for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and careers in the minds of children, even before they head to high school and beyond.