Burlington’s Kids Fishing Derby

🎣🇺🇸 Burlington’s Kids Fishing Derby × America 250 🇺🇸🎣

This year, our 10th Anniversary Derby lined up with America’s 250th — two milestones, one unforgettable morning on the water. We celebrated a decade of teaching kids to cast, dream, and believe… while honoring 250 years of the American spirit that built communities just like ours.

And in the middle of all that hometown magic, TWO Lucky Young Anglers reeled in something extra special — our America 250th prize packs, created to mark this once‑in‑a‑lifetime year.

Big smiles. Big memories. Big Burlington pride.

Here’s to 10 years of the Derby, 250 years of America, and a community that keeps showing up with heart.

❤️ Community. Pride. Progress.

They came to the water before the world was awake.
Kids with sleepy eyes, big dreams, and fishing rods taller than they were.
The kind of kids who still believe in magic — and on Derby Day, Burlington gives it to them.

And today… they became winners.

On behalf of the Burlington Youth Fishing Association 501(c)(3), we raise our voices for every young angler who turned Kennedy Lake into a stage, a proving ground, a little piece of hometown legend.
You didn’t just catch fish — you caught a moment in time.
A moment that belongs to you, your families, and this town we love.

Because this Derby?
It’s not just about the biggest catch.
It’s about grit.
It’s about heart.
It’s about kids learning that sometimes the line tangles, sometimes the hook slips, sometimes the fish gets away —
and you keep casting anyway.

That’s Burlington.
That’s who we are.

We saw champions today — not just in the winners’ circle, but in every kid who showed up with courage in their chest and hope in their hands.
Kids who fought the weeds, the nerves, and still smiled like the sun came up just for them.

And when those names were called…
When those Certificates were lifted…
When the cheers rolled across the lake like thunder…
You could feel it —
this town is raising something special.

So here’s to our winners.
Here’s to our families.
Here’s to our volunteers who give their Saturdays and their hearts.
Here’s to Burlington — a place where community isn’t a slogan, it’s a promise.

Keep fishing. Keep dreaming. Keep showing the world what hometown kids can do.
Because days like this?
They’re the kind that echo for a lifetime.

❤️ Community. Pride. Progress.

🎣 10th Annual Burlington Kids Fishing Derby

428 Fish • 120 Kids • 10 Years of Memories

What a morning in Burlington this past Saturday!
Kids catching their first fish ever, families cheering from the shoreline, and a community that shows up year after year.

ᴅᴀᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀʀᴇ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴜᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ. ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇ, ᴅᴀᴡɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴘᴏᴜʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟ — ꜱᴘᴏɴꜱᴏʀꜱ, ᴘʀɪᴢᴇꜱ, ꜰᴏᴏᴅ, ꜱᴇᴛᴜᴘ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ — ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴜɪʟᴛ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʀɪɴɢꜱ ᴊᴏʏ ᴛᴏ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴋɪᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ.

🧒 The Catch Count

• Ages 1–7: 109 fish
• Ages 8–15: 319 fish
• Total: 428 fish
• Biggest Catch: 16‑inch catfish

Sunfish, bass, catfish… and even a few turtles. Some kids caught “whoppers,” some caught baby fish — and every single one was perfect.

❤️Community Leaders & Council Members

Leaders and council members from both Burlington City and Burlington Township joined us throughout the morning, including:

• Township Mayor Green
• City Mayor Conaway
• Commissioner Brolo
• Assemblyman Singh

🌭 Hotdogs for Everyone

A huge thank‑you to both Burlington City and Burlington Township Police Departments for cooking hotdogs for all the kids and families. The grills were going early, and the smiles were nonstop.

🛠️ Public Works Appreciation

Shoutout to Burlington Public Works for getting the park ready before sunrise — clean, safe, and perfect for the kids. Their behind‑the‑scenes work makes the whole day run smoothly.

🚑 Endeavor EMTs

Thank you to the Endeavor EMTs, who are always on‑site watching over the kids, keeping everyone safe, and handling every little snag with calm professionalism. Their presence gives families peace of mind.

🤝 Major Sponsors Who Make This Possible

(Not a full list — just the major contributors for this post.)

City of Burlington • Township of Burlington
City FOP #63 • Township FOP #84
Burlington Chevrolet • Zebco • Eagle Claw • Comal Tackle• Bass Pro Shops • New Vision Pioneers - Downstate Chapter 81 •
Colonial Burlington Foundation/Wood St Fair •US Air Force 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron • Chick‑fil‑A — meals for all 120 kids
JB Bakery — 10 dozen donuts

We appreciate all of our sponsors — big and small — who help make this event happen every year.

🎉 𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡.
𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬.
𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 —
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧: 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧.

📅 See you on September 19, 2026 at Sylvan Lake

for the final derby of the year — let’s finish the 10th anniversary season strong.

🎣 10 AMAZING years. 120 kids today. 428 fish. Over 1,300 Poles given to the children over a Decade.

That’s not just a Milestone — that’s a Legacy.
A decade of early mornings, Muddy Banks, Tangled lines, Proud Parents, and kids who Walk away Feeling like CHAMPIONS.

Every pole handed out — all 1,300+ of them — is more than gear.
It’s an Invitation to Adventure. It’s a Memory Starter. It’s a reason for families to Slow Down, Sit Together, and Make Moments that Last.

❤️ What today really means

Some of those 120 kids caught their very First Fish.
Some learned Patience.
Some learned Confidence.
All of them felt seen, supported, and part of something bigger.

And Ten Years from now, they’ll remember this day — not the number, but the Feeling.

More pictures coming soon

🎣 Friday Morning Derby Excitement — Big Fluff Edition

Friday morning in Burlington — and the excitement is kicking in.
Tomorrow’s the day.
The Kids Fishing Derby is almost here, and we’re making our final rounds with the best assistant in the business… Big Fluff.

He’s on duty, supervising, inspecting, and making sure everything is ready for the kids.
Kennedy Park is quiet now, but tomorrow it’ll be full of laughter, first casts, and memories in the making.

It’s an honor to help bring this tradition to life for our hometown.
Let’s get ready for an unforgettable Saturday.
See you at the Lake!
❤️
18th Burlington’s Kids Fishing Derby