Fishing Camps for Kids in the UK
26 September 2023
Having a go at fishing is great for children. It gets them outside, teaches them the virtue of patience and perseverance, and provides a calm, tranquil environment to be in. Many of the qualities fishing develops can positively impact other areas of a child’s development, so it's definitely worth encouraging your child to give fishing a go. There are many local fishing and angling clubs and venues spread throughout the country, most of which run their own lessons, courses and camps. Below are some of the best ones.
Kids Fish Summer Camp - Nether Wallop Mill and River Test
This fun and well-rated camp, hosted by Fishing Breaks, runs for three days over the summer holidays, making it the perfect experience for children looking to try a new pastime with weather and time on their side. Situated in the New Forest, not too far from Salisbury, this course focuses on fly-fishing, and gives children a thorough introduction to all aspects of the sport, including tackle and gear, casting, best practice methods, information about the wildlife and habitat that they'll find themselves in, and even how to prepare and eat what they catch. The course is fully supervised and is run by energetic and exciting instructors, who make the experience memorable with competitions, prizes and awards.
Introduction to Angling - Cosgrove Park
Situated near Milton Keynes, Cosgrove Park hosts regular fishing courses and lessons for children. The most popular of these, “Introduction to Angling” is free to attend and aims to give children an all-round introduction to fishing by taking them out on the lake. The instructors help children to learn not only the techniques and methods of fishing but also more about how fish fit into the ecosystem and the responsibility we all have for the natural world around us. Classes run through the summer holidays and fill up fast, so book early to avoid disappointment.
The Fishing Experience - Essex
The Fishing Experience is an organisation that runs a multitude of courses for every age and ability. The ethos of the school is to get children “hooked” on fishing, so all instructors have a real eagerness and passion for passing on their love of the sport to the new generation. When children first arrive, they’re assessed and placed into the program that best suits their experience levels. During the course they will receive small-group coaching and will be taught everything from watercraft to bait mixing. The school is located near Waltham Abbey in Essex, at the Lake John Fishery, which is itself a beautiful and picturesque place to visit. Parents can therefore either drop their children off and leave or choose to spend some relaxing time there themselves.
Let’s Fish! - Canal and River Trust - Nationwide
The Canal and River Trust runs these award-winning events in many places across the country. The Let’s Fish! events are free, one-day events that serve as taster sessions to get children interested in fishing. The events themselves are run in close collaboration with the local angling and fishing clubs of their respective areas, meaning that by attending you will also get the chance to learn about the additional courses and camps that your local clubs run. Most courses run in the spring or autumn. Head over to the Let’s Fish! page of the Canal and River Trust website to find a list of upcoming classes and also links to your local club.