Program brings special needs children closer to nature

Gone fishin' at Colony Pond in Ansonia

 

Kyle Scarpulla, 10, of West Haven, fishes Saturday at Colony Pond in Ansonia. Assisting him is Jordan Hamuka, 14, of Naugatuck, a junior ranger at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. Patricia Villers/Register

ANSONIA - A group of special needs children and their families spent Saturday morning having a fine time fishing at Colony Pond.
They were taking part in a program co-sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, and the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education Program, said Martin Wigglesworth of Ansonia.
Wigglesworth is a park ranger at the nature center.
The children are members of a West Haven-based group called The Children with Special Needs Program, said Karen Muro, project coordinator. She said families do not have to be West Haven residents to join the group.  
She said the children regularly participate in activities such as bowling, karate, and fitness classes. They also are planning trips to Lake Compounce in Bristol and a Bluefish baseball game in Bridgeport, among other activities this summer.



Their visit Saturday to Colony Pond in Ansonia was a first. Assisting Wigglesworth with the fishing supervision were Ansonia residents Russ Zelanin and Dave Connelly. "To watch these kids (enjoying themselves) is just awesome," Wigglesworth said, smiling broadly.

Viola Waldo of West Haven, whose grandson Kyle Scarpulla, 10, was one of the children who was clearly enjoying Saturday's fishing trip, said that being in nature relaxes him. She has started a Facebook page, and has dedicated it to Kyle.

My husband and I were moved to see that something as simple as catching and releasing fish at a local pond could have such a positive impact on children with special needs.