Kids Can Catch – Spruce View

The Alberta Conservation Association’s Kids Can Catch program brings free youth fishing events to communities across Alberta each season, pairing children with experienced angling mentors who teach the basics of freshwater fishing in a low-pressure, supportive environment. The Spruce View edition uses Schmidek Pond, a privately owned pond at 36371 Highway 766, set against the quiet rural landscape of central Alberta’s Red Deer County. The 2025 edition ran September 20 from 10 AM to 3 PM. A 2026 date is expected — check ab-conservation.com for confirmed registration and event details as the season approaches.

The format is consistent with Kids Can Catch events across the province: rods, lures, and tackle are provided for loan, so children arrive with nothing more than enthusiasm. Volunteer mentors on site teach how to bait a hook, how to read the water, how to cast a line cleanly, and how to handle and release fish responsibly. The emphasis throughout the day is on responsible angling and conservation — children learn why catch-and-release matters and how healthy pond and lake ecosystems depend on practices that most adults take years to understand.

> What to Bring
> – Lifejackets are required near the water. A limited number are available to borrow, but bringing your own is recommended.
> – Fishing gear is available to borrow, but families with their own rods are welcome to bring them.
> – Dress for changing Alberta weather. Even in summer, mornings near the pond can be cool and afternoon winds pick up quickly.
> – Complimentary beverages and snacks are provided for young participants while supplies last.
> – Follow parking signage from the event organizers. Driving directions are provided through the sign-up link at ab-conservation.com.

## Who the Program Is For

Kids Can Catch is designed for youth of all experience levels. It’s as valuable for a child who has never held a rod as for one who fishes regularly with family. The teaching approach is patient and hands-on, and the pond setting keeps the experience accessible — no boats, no deep water, no complicated gear. Parents and guardians are welcome to participate or simply watch from the bank.

The Red Deer County surroundings give the event a genuine rural Alberta character. Spruce View itself is a small community that sits between Innisfail and Rimbey in the foothills transition zone, where agricultural land meets the first swells of the Rockies. Families who want to extend the trip can explore Sylvan Lake, approximately 40 kilometers east, one of Alberta’s most popular recreational lakes with a public beach, boat rentals, and a full summer season of waterfront activity.

> Good to Know
> – No Alberta fishing licence is required for children under 16.
> – Adults accompanying children who wish to fish require a valid Alberta sportfishing licence.
> – The ACA runs Kids Can Catch events throughout the province from spring through fall. Check the full schedule at ab-conservation.com to find the event nearest you if the Spruce View date doesn’t work.

## Connect it to a Bigger Lake Trip

Sylvan Lake, a 40-minute drive east on Highway 11A, offers a full summer waterfront experience with public beaches, kayak and paddleboat rentals from multiple operators along the waterfront strip, and a walkable town beach that works well for families with young children. Browse waterfront properties available on Lake.com near central Alberta to plan a longer stay that uses the Kids Can Catch event as one component of a broader week on the water.