Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp

Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp

The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited is offering its 17th Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp in June to educate students in the importance of coldwater conservation.  The camp is co-ed for youth ages 14 to 17 and up to 32 students will be selected.  It is hosted by the Cumberland Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited and held at the Allenberry Resort on the Yellow Breeches in Boiling Springs, PA, Sunday through Friday, June 19-24, 2011. Cost is $350 which includes tuition, room and board. Financial aid is available. The deadline for the early acceptance period is March 31, 2011.  If any vacancies remain, there will be an extended acceptance period until April 30, 2011.  Applications and additional information are available on-line at:  http://www.riverscamp.com/

The Camp provides a balance of instructional material and hands-on learning.  Classes include principles of ecology, hydrogeology, wetlands, trout stream entomology, aquatic invertebrates, hydrology, watersheds, the biology of pollution, trout behavior, reptiles and amphibians, acid deposition, the politics of conservation, and the effects of humans on the Chesapeake Bay. Even though this is the learning experience of a lifetime, it is not all work. Instructors lead streamside programs to collect aquatic invertebrates, review angling history and the evolution of an angler, conduct field identification of riparian corridors, and demonstrate wader safety and survival. Sessions include beginner and advanced casting, knot tying, fly tying, and advanced fishing.

Camp faculty are leaders in their respective fields. They come from all walks of life and have an intense interest in conservation. State agencies such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provide some of the faculty. Leading experts in the fly fishing community also volunteer their time and talents to provide a faculty that is well rounded.

If you have any questions about the camp, send an email to: riverscamp@gmail.com.  You may also contact the camp by mail at:  Rivers Conservation & Fly Fishing Youth Camp, PO Box 71,Boiling Springs, PA 17007.