Aquaterra Adventures in Bar Harbor is teaming with SOLO Wilderness Medicine to offer a wilderness first-aid class with an emphasis on paddle sports.

The course is ideal for anyone who plans to lead kayaking trips or canoeing trips, teach paddle sports at a camp, or spend time kayaking or canoeing in Maine.

The 16-hour program covers topics including preparation, prevention of injury, assessment, and treatment. All SOLO instructors are experienced rescue personnel with extensive outdoor experience and have been selected for their expertise in emergency medicine and rescue as well as their teaching skills.

Classroom lectures and discussions are supplemented by practical work and problem-solving exercises with an emphasis on hands-on experience.

Space is limited for the course, which is scheduled for May 4-6. The cost is $225 per person, and preregistration and a valid CPR certificate are required. A CPR certification class may be offered in the weeks before the wilderness first-aid course.

For more information, call 288-0007.

CastingKids competition on tap

BASS is bringing a Bassmaster CastingKids competition to the Bangor Civic Center this weekend in conjunction with the Bangor Boating and Marine Show.

CastingKids, in its 16th year, is open to girls and boys in two age groups: 7-10 and 11-14. The Bangor Bass Club will conduct the free event.

CastingKids competitions provide a way for parents and kids to learn about bass fishing and conservation efforts and to find out how they can spend quality time together.

The competition tests the basics of fishing – flipping, pitching, and casting – and begins at the local level. A practice session is planned from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, three with separate competitions scheduled during the weekend. Those competitions will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. today, from 3-7 p.m. today, and from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday. The six winners emerging from those competitions will advance to the state competition, with state winners moving on to a national event.

Parents or guardians must accompany children to the event.

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.