Trout Unlimited leader is an L.L. Bean Outdoor Hero

Preserving and enhancing Maine’s outdoors does not happen without the commitment of people, and thus L.L. Bean has launched its Outdoor Heroes Award program to recognize those who are making contributions to the appreciation of our natural resources.

One hero is Greg Ponte, of West Gardiner, who for years has been a leader, board member and catalyst of Trout Unlimited in Maine. About five years ago he stepped up his activity, and headed a team that launched the Maine Trout Unlimited Trout Camp on the upper Kennebec River.

The camp, which inhabits the Evergreens Campground in Solon, hosts 12 campers each year between the ages of 13-17. Acceptance into the program is based solely on the application, which essentially asks teens to explain why they really want to spend a week learning fly-fishing. This year the co-ed camp runs from June 22-27.

Note: Applications can be accessed on the website: www.troutcamp.tumaine.org. They are due April 15.

Ponte, 54, grew up in central Maine, and recalls he fished from the time he was a tot. “My family is Portuguese, so we went fishing. I learned to love the sport early.”

He attended Maine Maritime Academy then joined the Merchant Marine, in part so he could retire young enough to enjoy time fishing. He left that service nine years ago, and has spent much of his time promoting and teaching fly-fishing to everyone from school students to disabled veterans.

About five years ago he was an observer at a trout camp in Pennsylvania. He thought the idea could be imported to Maine, and enlisted the support of L.L. Bean to help get the program started. This will be its fifth year, and at $275 (subsidized) a week it is a bargain.

“Some kids have fished before; others have never tried it,” said Ponte, executive director of the camp. “That’s part of the excitement, to see youngsters learn and enjoy the experience.”

Dawn fishing is optional but the 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. period is required. Youngsters landed a variety of salmon and trout, with most being returned as part of the catch-and-release discipline. A few, though, are dissected for scientific purposes so students can learn the “inner workings” of the fish.

L.L. Bean has made a major commitment with equipment and gear. Patagonia, another retail denizen of Freeport, is also a supporter. About 10 of the 12 campers generally hail from Maine, though there are no specific guidelines on geography. An impartial panel picks the campers based the essay and a recommendation from a teacher.

Ponte, a longtime leader of Trout Unlimited in Maine, says the thrill for him is watching the campers interact and learn. “When they arrive, they don’t know each other and are pretty tentative. By the end of the week, they are buddies and having a lot of fun. They learn about fishing, but they also learn about responsibility of being in the outdoors and helping to appreciate and improve it. It’s been very rewarding to get this program started, and see all the fun that these young people have.”

Now that sounds like a hero, doesn’t it?

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