A student group from South Dakota State University is spearheading an effort to gather fishing equipment for youth on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Reservation Recreation Foundation, headquartered at SDSU, is coordinated by Russell Stubbles, head of the university's park management program. He is working with students to provide recreational opportunities for young people on the state's reservations.

One of those students is Aaron Holland, a park and recreation management major from Rapid City, who is overseeing the collection of fishing equipment at locations around South Dakota, including Rapid City.

"We are doing this because we are trying to bring recreation to the reservations of South Dakota," Holland said.

But it's more than just a class project for the college junior.

"Since I was little, I've had many great memories of fishing with family. This is a way of sharing my joy of recreation with others," he said.

People are asked to donate new or used fishing equipment at a collection point in the Rapid City Swim Center, 125 Waterloo St., Rapid City.

"We really need poles so that kids can go fishing at lakes on the reservation. In the future, we hope to host fishing tournaments there," Holland said.

People in Brookings already have donated nearly 200 fishing poles to the cause. Holland and Stubbles hope to ultimately gather nearly 1,000 fishing poles.