Kids Can Catch – Brooks

The Alberta Conservation Association’s Kids Can Catch program brings free youth fishing to Brooks Pond in Pattison Park in Brooks, Alberta, a community-accessible freshwater pond in the middle of one of southern Alberta’s most active outdoor recreation areas. Like all Kids Can Catch events, the Brooks edition is a single-day program open to youth anglers aged 16 and under, with rods, tackle, and lures provided for loan at no charge. Volunteer fishing mentors from the ACA and community partner organizations work the bank throughout the day, giving one-on-one instruction in casting, baiting, responsible catch-and-release handling, and basic fish ecology. A 2026 date is expected; check ab-conservation.com for the confirmed schedule and any pre-registration requirements as the season approaches.

Pattison Park is a well-maintained municipal park with accessible pathways, picnic tables, and open green space that makes it well suited for families with young children and strollers. The pond itself is stocked and calm, with enough fish activity to keep young anglers interested through a morning session even when the bite is slow.

## Brooks and the Badlands Next Door

Brooks sits in the heart of the Alberta Badlands corridor, and the surroundings give the event a regional character that few youth fishing programs can match. The Canadian Badlands Passion Play, one of Canada’s largest outdoor theatrical productions, is staged annually at an outdoor amphitheater east of the city. Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is approximately 45 kilometers northeast of Brooks and is one of the richest fossil fields in the world. For families making the drive to Brooks for the Kids Can Catch event, a half-day at the park and its Royal Tyrrell Museum field stations adds genuine educational weight to the trip and is consistently ranked among the top family experiences in Alberta.

Lake Newell, about 10 kilometers south of Brooks, is the largest natural lake in Alberta and one of the more accessible freshwater fishing destinations in the southern part of the province. With a boat launch and public shore access, it gives families who want to extend their time near the water a nearby option after the Kids Can Catch program wraps up for the day.

> Quick Tips
> – Youth under 16 fish licence-free at Kids Can Catch events.
> – Adults who wish to cast alongside their children require a valid Alberta sportfishing licence.
> – Lifejackets are required near the water. Bring your own; extras are available in limited supply on site.
> – Pattison Park has shaded picnic areas and accessible washrooms. Plan to arrive early for the best pond bank positions.
> – Confirm the specific date and pre-registration requirements at ab-conservation.com before travel, as scheduling can shift year to year.

## Find Your Southern Alberta Water Base

Brooks and the surrounding region offer limited vacation rental inventory on the water, but the Lake Newell corridor has growing options for families looking to extend a southern Alberta nature trip. Browse available properties near Brooks and the Canadian Badlands on Lake.com’s Alberta page to find options suited to your group. A stay near the Badlands lets you pair the morning fishing clinic with an afternoon in Dinosaur Provincial Park and make the most of the drive south.