ESCANABA — Kids Fishing Day — a day of fun, fishing and families will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Registration for Kids Fishing Day will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth ages 16 years old and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Brenda Madden, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for most all the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day events, plus some new activities, and the Pocket Park offers a beautiful natural-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Familiar activities returning include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and raffle prizes.

Greg Karch, certified angler instructor and founder of the non-profit organization Learn 2 Fish with Us, will be returning to the event this year to teach kids how to cast a fishing line and tie fishing knots.

Karch’s organization has educated more than 50,000 anglers in Wisconsin since 2006 and has hosted nearly 300 fishing workshops, including Kids Fishing Day at Camp 7 where he offered Backyard Bass for youngsters.

In addition, Smokey Bear will be wandering the grounds. There will also be a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to shoot at the Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges.

This year’s Kids Fishing Day event will be held in conjunction with the DNR’s free fishing weekend. Camping is available on the fairgrounds (Contact the Delta County Chamber of Commerce).

The DNR Pocket Park is located nearest Gate No. 1 at the fairgrounds, which can be accessed from 12th Avenue North.

Partners include the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen, Inc., Michigan DNR and the U.S. Forest Service’s Hiawatha National Forest.

The Kids Fishing Day team extends a special thank you to all the volunteers as this event would not be possible without them.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help at the event, contact Brenda at 906-286-1348.

A programme focused on sharing, collaborating and confirming action

The IOC Young Leaders also met their colleagues from the 2021-2025 cohort during the “Been There, Learnt That” session, where they exchanged solutions and were offered practical tips on delivering their projects.

Two Worldwide Olympic Partners, Samsung and Visa, were actively involved in the programme at the IOC Youth Summit.

Samsung presented to the IOC Young Leaders the vision of Solve for Tomorrow, a programme on which Samsung is collaborating with the IOC to inspire young people around the world to drive positive social change through technology and sport, as part of the company’s global youth education programme.

Participants also took part in a hackathon. The IOC Young Leaders were challenged to design products, services, digital tools and campaigns to expand access to secure and user-friendly financial services. The aim was to propose solutions that are sport-based, scalable and relevant to the IOC’s target groups. The IOC will move forward the winning proposals to design tangible solutions.

Jaqueline Simoneau, an IOC Young Leader and four-time Olympian, concluded: “The Olympism365 Summit was a powerful convergence of vision and action where we had the opportunity to engage with global changemakers. We witnessed bold commitments from the international community and strengthened our collective resolve to drive positive impact through sport, every day of the year. As IOC Young Leaders, and through the IOC Youth Summit, we are committed to supporting this vision through our collective action.”

When Ben Urso approached Glenn Mills several years ago about taking over his B&J Sports store in Harrison, Mills turned him down, lamenting that “some day” he’ll be ready to retire.

That day has come.

“I’m delighted to be able to do it,” Urso said. “I feel wonderful when, mostly children, get the rewards of having a new uniform or new practice gear or new trophies because they won an award — just to see how happy it makes them.

“That’s really the duty of sports.”

Mills, now 88, has been a pillar in the local sports community for decades — even before he started his business part time in 1969, going full time in 1998.

From founding the Highland Hornets Youth Football and Cheerleading in 1969 to coaching Tarentum-Brackenridge Little League, Mills has contributed a lot to the local youth sports community.

He remains humble regarding his accomplishments and tries to stay in the background, barely accepting Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction in 2020.

He attributes most of the store’s success to his wife, Rose Mills.

As Little League® celebrates yet another birthday as the world’s largest and most trusted youth sports organization, it is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 Photo Contest, giving fans the opportunity to submit their favorite photos from the season that showcase the five core values of the Little League program – Fun, Teamwork, Integrity, Inclusion, and Community.  

With submissions accepted at LittleLeague.org/PhotoContest from June 6 until 9 p.m. ET on August 1, 2025, the Little League Photo Contest gives fans of all ages the opportunity to tell the story of how their photos bring the values of the Little League program to life with a chance to be recognized during the 2025 LLBWS as well as within the World of Little League® Museum.  

SUBMIT PHOTO

Those interested in participating in this year’s photo contest are encouraged to show the many ways they are bringing the values to life in their own communities. As a reminder, these are how the five core values keep our programs inspired by our mission every day: 

• Fun: Fun is what makes our game so memorable. We cultivate fun through enjoyable, memorable, and safe experiences, which result in a sense of belonging and individual growth. 

• Teamwork: Team means everything here! We believe that teamwork is the shared efforts of individuals, characterized by trust, commitment, and communication, in pursuit of common goals. 

• Integrity: These focus on the lessons we learn on and off the field. We act with respect, honesty, and integrity in all that we do. 

• Inclusion: Everyone deserves a sense of belonging and the opportunity to be a part of a team. We prioritize inclusion as the intentional part of our culture, which is created when we provide equitable opportunities, access, and respect for individual differences and perspectives. 

• Community: We’re committed to the development and growth of our communities within our program.  

For the third-straight year, the top three selected photos in August will also receive direct entry into the Professional Baseball Photographer’s Association Photo Contest, set to take place at the end of the year. 

Over the course of the summer, Little League International will also choose select photos from the Photo Contest and share those stories across its official social media platforms (@LittleLeague) and on its website to promote the contest and celebrate these stories. After the conclusion of the contest on August 1, Little League International’s staff will work to identify the top photos from the contest and conduct a vote to determine a the top three to be featured on Little League’s official social media platforms (@LittleLeague) as well as posted in the World of Little League Museum with previous honorees of Little League’s various photo contests. 

2024 Top Photos

For more information, including how to submit your photo and the official Terms and Conditions, visit LittleLeague.org/PhotoContest.  

Kalamazoo — KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced the return of Joel Martin’s ‘Game On’ Street Hockey camps for Summer 2025 on XXXXX, powered by NHL STREET™, along with partnerships with The Kalamazoo Promise and Kzoo Parks to facilitate free of cost camps for 200-plus children in Kalamazoo’s inner city.

Five Street Hockey camps will be held at Kalamazoo’s Upjohn and LaCrone Parks from June to August, exclusively for Kzoo Parks Summer Camps this summer. Each camper is set to receive free admission to the almost two-hour event, an official NHL STREET™Jersey, a street hockey stick and a swag bag, courtesy of The Kalamazoo Promise.

“The K-Wings are proud of the return of NHL STREET™, and we’re so excited to partner with The Kalamazoo Promise and Kzoo Parks,” said Toni Will, Kalamazoo Wings General Manager and Governor. “It’s always a no-brainer to team up with local organizations that commit to serving the next generation, and most especially organizations that care about making an impact in underserved communities like they both do.”

NHL STREET™is the premier ball hockey experience designed to provide kids ages 6 to 16 and their families with the best of what youth sports can be: having fun, staying active, making friends and creating great memories.

Established in 2005, The Kalamazoo Promise allows students who graduate from the Kalamazoo Public Schools and meet the basic requirements to receive up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees paid for at any in-state public community college or university. Currently, over 8,700 students have used The Promise for higher education with over $230 million invested in that span.

“The Kalamazoo Promise is excited to partner with the NHL STREET™ hockey experience to bring this unique opportunity to our community,” said Von Washington, CEO of The Kalamazoo Promise. “We believe in the power of sports to positively impact children’s lives, and we are committed to providing access to quality programs that promote physical activity, teamwork and leadership skills. Moreover, participating in NHL STREET can have a positive impact on the mental well-being of children. Engaging in team sports has been shown to boost self-esteem and confidence, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote social connections. These benefits are especially important for children who may be facing challenges or adversity in their personal lives.”

Kzoo Parks offers a variety of programs for Kalamazoo’s youth annually, with financial assistance available to those in need. The camps participating in the ‘GAME ON’ are affiliated with Camp Kzoo, a summer day camp with nine different weeks of special activities and field trips for children aged 5 (Kindergarten completed) to 12 years old. Click here for more information about Camp Kzoo.

“We’re thrilled to announce that our summer camps are once again teaming up with the K-Wings and the NHL STREET™program and bringing it to all 6 summer camp sites,” said Pete Aerts, Kzoo Parks Recreation Coordinator. “This exciting partnership brings high-energy, hockey-inspired fun to camp, helping our campers stay active, build skills, and make unforgettable memories.”

Last summer, the K-Wings hosted 64 campers across two summer camps in Kalamazoo. This summer, by partnering with the two pillars in the Kalamazoo community, the Wings continue their commitment to bring the game to a new generation while breaking down barriers for youth athletes to get involved in sports.

Camps will be hosted and coached by Joel Martin, K-Wings Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach. K-Wings players & staff, KOHA staff (Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association), along with respective camp counselors, will also assist Martin in the camp. The children will learn basic hockey fundamentals and participate in a hockey tournament inside an NHL STREET™ branded street hockey arena.

“We’re proud to see NHL Street™ making a real impact in our community by giving kids a fun, accessible way to stay active and build confidence through street hockey,” Martin said. “This program wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support from our partners — Kalamazoo Parks & Recreation and The Kalamazoo Promise. Their commitment to youth enrichment and inclusive recreation has helped bring this vision to life, and we’re excited to continue growing together.”

NHL STREET™ brings new style, energy and gameplay to the sport, offering families an affordable, neighborhood-based model that allows kids across North America to learn and play hockey. A year later, NHL STREET™ has more than 100 league operators in the U.S. and Canada with more than 2,500 youth enjoying the game of street hockey, including in places where hockey has previously been unavailable.

*press release courtesy Kalamazoo Wings