Students from a Unity College leadership class will teach ice-fishing skills to youngsters ages 5-15 on March 3 at the boat launch on Unity Pond.

Skills that will be taught include fishing techniques, safety, handling of fish, and fish anatomy.

The event was conceived by Unity College students as part of a class that focuses on developing leadership skills to make a positive difference in communities.

“There are many positive activities that young individuals can pursue that are interesting, fun, and engaging,” said first-year student Josh Beuth. “This is very much an anti-drug initiative where we are helping youth to become involved in outdoor activities. When youth are involved in positive activities, they are far less susceptible to negative influences that can lead them to make bad choices.”

Officials from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife will join members of the Unity College Conservation Law Enforcement Club as volunteers at the event and a Unity-area game warden will be on hand to assist.

Events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available at a concession stand. For more information, contact Emily Jones of the DIF&W at 287-8069 or e-mail her at emily.jones@maine.gov.

Raft Maine elects leaders

Raft Maine, an association of professional whitewater rafting outfitters, has elected its officers for 2007.

Jim Murton of North Country Rivers was elected president, Ed Beauchamp of Professional River Runners was chosen as vice president, and Sharyn Peabody of Crab Apple Whitewater will be treasurer.

Raft Maine, which was formed in 1993, promotes whitewater rafting and outdoor adventures on Maine’s Kennebec, Dead, and Penobscot rivers. The organization maintains a Web site at www.raftmaine.com and a reservations phone at 800-723-8633.

Raft Maine partners with more than 200 lodging establishments, campgrounds, retailers, chambers of commerce, and information centers in the state to provide information and seasonal river reports.

Derby season continues

The recent spate of cold weather has provided avid ice anglers plenty of solid ice, and a busy slate of fishing derbies continues.

Among the upcoming events:

. In Enfield, Lowell-Enfield Boy Scout Troop 64 is holding a derby that began on Friday and runs through Sunday. The weigh-in is at the Ammadamast Grange in Enfield.

. In Ellsworth, the Down East Family YMCA is sponsoring a derby today on all Hancock County waters. The grand prize is $500 and the weigh-in is at the YMCA between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

. In Gouldsboro, the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias and Grand Temple Knights of Pythias are holding a derby today on all legal waters of Hancock and Washington counties. The weigh-in is at Schoodic Lodge #129.

. In Ludlow, Hodgdon High School is sponsoring a derby today on Nickerson and Drews lakes. The weigh-in will be held at Cameron’s Market.

. In Stetson, K-9 for Kids of the Anah Shrine in Bangor will hold a derby on Feb. 17 on Pleasant Lake. The weigh-in is at White’s Camp.

. In Great Pond, the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department will hold a derby Feb. 17-18 on Great Pond. The weigh-in will be held at the Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center.

. In Milo, the Milo Fire Department will host its 45th annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 17-18. The derby is open to Schoodic and Sebeois lakes and Ebeemee Pond. The weigh-in is at Lakeview and Knight Landing in Brownville.

. In Bucksport, The Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club is sponsoring a derby on Feb. 18 on Silver Lake. The weigh-in will be at the Silver Lake landing.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, Maine, 04402-1329.