SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Children wearing bright orange T-shirts lined Eston Wilson Lake at Hillside Park Saturday morning, anxiously hoping to reel in a big catch.
The Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby brought together families from neighboring Clarks Summit to Monroe Twp. in Wyoming County.
Linda Young started the fishing derby in 2010 in memory of her late husband, Lawrence “Bud” Young, an avid fisherman.
Stacy Cognetti, co-chair of the fishing derby, believes the annual event provides a valuable outlet for children to explore the outdoors.
“I’ve always been involved with environmental initiatives, and I’ve been a parkgoer for a number of years,” she said. “I think it’s really important because there are so many kids inside doing indoor activities and they’re not outside doing things in nature. It’s great to get them to the lake and get them outside, fishing. Then, you end up seeing these kids back in the park — they want to walk the trails, they want to hike, and they’re seeing other things that are going on. They’re outside and engaging with other kids.”
People line at lake during the Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Mike Crowley of Hop Bottom pulls a largemouth bass out a bucket to be measured during the Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby at Hillside Park in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Mike Tigue of Monroe Twp. assists her children, Jack, 6, and Lainey, 2, during the Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby at Hillside Park in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Nicholas Ranella of Clarks Summit take a fish, caught by his son, Enzo, 8, off the line during the Forever Young Fishing Derby at Hillside Park in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Children participate in a fishing derby at Hillside Park in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
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People line at lake during the Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby in South Abington Twp. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
In addition to the fishing aspect, the children also learned about the environment through informational materials provided by the Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program.
“It adds the educational piece so the kids know what’s in the water and what the wildlife is feeding off,” Cognetti said. “It just gives them more of an appreciation for nature.”
Derby officials accept registrations for 200 children and walkups are also allowed on the morning for the free event, Cognetti said. Each kid receives a T-shirt, lunch, bait, and a medal. Additionally, prizes are awarded for the biggest fish caught in various age groups.
Sporadic rain showers fell on the lake throughout the morning, but the wet weather didn’t seem to dampen the participants’ enthusiasm.
“If it’s a day like this, you have people that aren’t as inclined to come out,” Cognetti said. “But generally, rain or shine, there are people here.”
Nicholas Ranella of Clarks Summit attended the derby with his wife, Alyssa, and two boys, Nicholas, 13, and Enzo, 8 — a yearly tradition for the group.
Raniella noted he enjoys fishing with his sons at Hillside Park, along with Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Twp.
Enzo — who started fishing last year and got more involved this spring and summer — cherishes the family aspect of the pastime.
Mike Tigue of Monroe Twp. drove past the park many times and decided to check out the property on Saturday with his kids, Jack, 6, and Lainey, 2.
“I travel through here for work a lot, and I saw they were doing the derby, so I brought my two children,” Tigue said. “It’s a nice park. They have a lot of stuff for the kids to do.”
Tigue previously took his son to several fishing derbies throughout the area, but it was Lainey’s first competition, and she caught a bluegill, he said.
The fishing derby also serves as a much-anticipated event for students from the Scranton School for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children, said Mary Ann Stefko, coordinator of the school’s Barnyard Friends program.
“It gives kids an opportunity to be out and to be involved in their community, which I think is such a big benefit, and it gives them a lifelong hobby,” she said. “For our kids, who are deaf or hard of hearing, being at an event like this, everyone is in it together, and it’s so supportive. Everybody has been so kind. We plan for it as soon as the summer hits.”