Fishing Campout

Join us at Lion’s Den Campground for the annual Mineral Lake Fishing Derby. This event celebrates the beginning of fishing season and the history of fishing and camping at Mineral Lake. The fishing derby celebration includes a fishing competition, raffle events, and various booths, as well as a fishing pond for kids to be able to practice catching fish. Each child receives their own fishing rod, and volunteers at the event will help process and cook the fish if the child chooses.

Price: This event is pay as you can. Participants can choose to ride with us to Mineral Lake, or drive themselves. Families may also bring their own food and cook it on our propane camp stove. Because of the differences in costs to our organization, as well as the different financial abilities of families, this event is free, with the following suggested donation amounts if you are able.

• Transportation, food, and borrowing camping gear: $50 per person suggested donation to cover costs of food, fuel costs, and staff time packing, cleaning and potentially repairing camping gear.
• Transportation and borrowing camping gear (bringing your own food): $25 per person suggested donation
• The above suggestions are guidelines that reflect the cost of fuel, food, and the care and cleaning of camping equipment. Please contribute, or not, as you are able.

Itinerary: Start time April 26: 6 PM at Sahale Outdoors Education Center. If you are driving yourself, plan to be at Mineral Lake around 9 AM on April 27.

End time April 28: Noon at Mineral Lake Campground, 2 PM at Sahale Outdoors Education Center

Meet Location for Transportation: Sahale Outdoors Education Center, 5007 Pacific Hwy E #19, Fife, WA 98424

Meet Location for driving yourself: Mineral Lake Lion’s Den Campground, 113 W Front St, Mineral, WA 98355

Packing List: Camping and Hiking (This packing list assumes Sahale Outdoors is providing food and camping equipment)

Highlights

Exploration – Growing and learning in the outdoors – Building friendships

Difficulty Level

Easy: Walking, fishing, optional easy, flat hikes, lakeside activities

2024 Schedule:

April 26-28

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“It [Lushootseed] is from the beginning strength of the people, and it is from what the Creator put down upon this land for people…. The earth speaks. The animals speak. Everything has a voice.”

Vi Hilbert, Grandmother Video Project

The traditional homeland of the Nisqually people includes about two million acres of the Nisqually River drainage from Mt. Rainier to Olympia. They have inhabited this land for thousands of years, since, according to their history, their ancestors, the Squalli-absch, came north across the Cascades from the Great Basin. Nisqually life, territory, and culture have been heavily impacted by the European invasion of the Puget Sound area, and they have fought hard to maintain their identity and dignity in the face of displacement, violence, and suppression. Multiple names around the Puget Sound area honor Leschi, a war chief of the Nisqually Tribe during the mid 19th century, who, along with his brother Quiemuth, led the fight for his people’s right to remain on their ancestral homeland. 

The Nisqually way of life revolves around salmon, and today, they lead the stewardship of fisheries resources in the Nisqually River area. The tribe operates two fish hatcheries on Clear Creek and Kalama Creek. The tribe’s resilience, dedication, and commitment can be seen in their continued efforts to come alongside, guide, and lead these efforts to care for the land.
Nisqually is a Southern Coast Salish language, and is a dialect of Lushootseed. Stories, songs, and other Nisqually language resources can be found on the tribe’s website, www.nisqually-nsn.gov.