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������Ƶ will host a children’s fishing tournament on Sunday,��Oct. 26,��at��8:30��a.m.,��run��by��Associate Professor��of Environmental Studies Bridgette��Froeschke’s��Spatial��Ecology��Lab.��The��free��event will take place on the west side of the Hillsborough River between��the��Cass��Building and Plant Park.

The tournament, titled the ICK Fishing Tournament (Invasive and Cichlid Kid Fishing Tournament), will��teach��youth ages��5-15 about the role of invasive species in��the community.��Around 50 children will participate in activities across five stations:��two stations for rod-and-reel fishing along the river;��one station for using minnow traps to catch invasive fish in Plant Creek;��one station for educational games;��and one station that will lead��to��a scavenger hunt to discover invasive animals around the campus.��

Prizes donated by local stakeholders will be awarded to those who catch the highest variety of invasive fish, the highest quantity of invasive��fish,��and the invasive fish with the largest size.

“I created the ICK Fishing Tournament to give kids a fun and free way to learn about marine science and conservation. I wanted to show them that science��isn’t��just something done in a lab; it can happen right here in Tampa Bay,”��Froeschke��said. “Through hands-on fishing and real sampling techniques, participants learn about invasive fish species and the��important role��they can play in protecting our local waters. My goal each year is to spark curiosity, build confidence and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”