WARETOWN – Nearly three dozen children of service members stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst recently reeled in a day of fun and learning at the Lighthouse Center for Education.
The Fish Hawks Saltwater Anglers Club, with 140 members strong, has been casting its lines for good causes for quite some time. Their annual Youth Fishing Seminar for military kids dates back to 2011 and has a spot marked on the Joint Base calendar.
Learning The Ropes (And Knots)
The day began with a series of scheduled activities as the kids divided into groups. One of the fun challenges was casting mastery. Volunteers coached the participants from individual stations as they aimed their rods to cast inside a giant hula hoop target.
Give some kids a bit of rope – and what will they come up with? Using wrenches as mock hooks (a clever twist!), the kids tackled the Palomar knot with surprising ease. With a little practice and expert guidance, these future fishing stars learned that some knots are meant to be.
A cooler filled with fish, courtesy of Viking Village on Barnegat Light, served a dual purpose for identification and cleaning demonstrations. The fish included stripers, sea bass, fluke, and even a six-foot-long thresher shark tail. Children learned about fish cleaning techniques and watched in awe as a volunteer expertly filleted one of the fish.
Two United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members led discussions on the importance of staying safe on the water. They explained their roles as volunteer guardians of the coast, then dove into a lively water safety lesson. Each of the participants had a chance to try on a life vest and learn about the importance of personal protective equipment.
Beyond the thrill of the catch, the day delved into the science of fish tagging – providing a glimpse into how marine life is tracked and studied. Local experts then expanded the classroom beyond the water’s surface. The kids had some extra fun, from learning about the fascinating world of crabs (a few of which may have left a playful trail across the room!) to the delicate balance of terrapin populations.
The event wasn’t just for the kids – local dignitaries also stopped by to show their support. State Senator Carmen Amato (R-9), Barnegat Mayor Joe Marte, and Township of Ocean Mayor Lydia Dodd all joined the festivities, underscoring the importance of this community program.
The day culminated in a delicious barbecue, a welcome reward after all the learning and laughter. But the fun didn’t stop there. Each participant received a special gift – a brand-new fishing rod and reel combo and a tackle box stocked with everything they needed. They also can proudly say – they got the tee shirt commemorating the day of fun.
Next on the Fish Hawks’ agenda is a fishing trip on August 17 for the group from Ma Deuce Deuce, a veteran advocacy non-profit organization. Seven club members will bring their boats to Key Harbor Marina in Waretown for the event, continuing the tradition of community support and engagement.
Military Kids – A Special Breed
Participants in the day’s events ranged in age from 8-18, and all had at least one parent stationed at the Joint Base. Students attend classes from different school districts, including North Hanover, Pemberton and Manchester. Many of the younger kids who live on base attend the Endeavour School.
William Crockett, known as “Mr. Will,” led the group from McGuire Youth Programs. A former Army serviceman, Mr. Will has spent 25 years working with youth programs on various bases. He is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. The children seem to look up to Mr. Will as someone who understands their unique challenges.
Reassignments and deployments often lead to unpredictable changes. Nine-year-old Andrew Knowles, whose father serves in the Air Force and whose mother provides daycare services, has lived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for six years. Not all the children interviewed have had such long-term longevity in one place.
Twins Teria and Tessa Beckenhauer, 12, were adopted to become part of a family of nine. Their dad is in the Air Force, and their relocation from Alexandria, VA to New Jersey came just two weeks ago. Two of the other Beckenhauer siblings also joined in the fun at the fishing event.
Logan Dorring, 10, said he expects to continue to go to school in New Jersey until at least December. “My dad’s retiring,” he said. “When we move, I’ll be going to school in Hartford, Michigan.”
Logan said he wished they’d stay the entire year – but “it’s not looking good.”
As far as the challenges of being a child of a serviceperson, one of the kids lamented that his dad works at night and sleeps all day and it’s necessary to be quiet. Another said his father is on a “secret deployment.” And, it wasn’t the first time – Dad was home for a week and left again.
“Deployment means they’re on a mission,” shared one of the other elementary school children.
The transient nature of military life was nothing new to one of the event’s chaperones. Joe McIntosh was quite humble and unassuming in saying he worked as part of the Air Force’s FSS (Force Support Squadron). Later, it was revealed that Major Joe McIntosh is the commander of the 87th Force Support Squadron at the Joint Base. Joe’s son, Aiden (8 going on 9), was also among the children participating in the program.
“I was a military brat myself,” Joe shared. “Staying in the same place or living in the same local area for an extended period of time is unknown to me. It’s kind of scary, actually – I’ve always had that kind of gypsy mindset.”
Joe said the moves he has made have served him well. He anticipates the same will be true for his son. Aiden was born in Montana, moved to Colorado, on to Korea, then to New Mexico and has lived in New Jersey for the last year.
“Everywhere I go, I meet really good people,” said Joe. “And we always keep in touch and pick up where we left off.”
