|
Sunday, March 14, 2004
OUTDOORS: Deirdre Fleming
Trout Camp lessons come with a catch
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
 |
Also on this page: TROUT CAMP | |||||
It's good they are calling it a Trout Camp and not a fishing camp. Trout Unlimited's youth fly-fishing camp that will be offered in Maine for the first time this summer isn't so much about fishing as it is about fish. The youth who understand that conservation concept from the outset will be the ones who qualify for the June camp. The conservation camp will teach youths ages 14 to 17 how, when and where to pursue trout on the Kennebec River in Solon. The camp at Evergreen Campground also will teach why the trout are out there. They'll learn firsthand what happens when they get up early to fish, or go out at the end of the day, or use live flies from the river to fashion imitations. They'll have the chance to catch beautiful trout from a generous part of the Kennebec. "Anyone who wants to put the time in will catch fish. I have never gone fishless up there. And I grew up fishing at The Forks," said David Bowie, a Trout Unlimited volunteer who has helped make the camp possible. Then, somewhere between the early morning casting lessons and the fly-fishing indoctrination, they'll learn about endangered species, wild fisheries, the effects of dams - and how to write letters to the Legislature. Not what you'd get from your normal fishing camp. "I've been in TU 25 years," Bowie said. "I've seen everything from Edwards Dam to the endangered species listing. We hope to impart (to) them the empowerment to do something, as simple as going to Augusta to speak at a pubic hearing. That's where regulations get debated. That's what it's all about." Mostly, Bowie said, the campers will learn why the fish are there and what could happen to foil the fishing in Maine if conservation methods are not practiced. Campers will be taught the difference between a healthy river system and a choked one by conducting water quality tests. They'll dissect fish. Don Herbert, chairman of the Trout Camp, promised there will be outdoor lessons that go beyond how to fly-fish and protect river systems. For example, there will be speakers who will teach archeology and about Maine's ancient settlers. By trying to instill a respect and interest in Maine's outdoors, the Trout Unlimited volunteers will take the camp a step further, hoping that the campers who emerge from five days of fishing instruction, water-quality lessons and political discourse will become the conservation leaders of tomorrow. Trout Unlimited is a national conservation organization with the mission to conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries. Organized in 1980, the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited is made up of seven chapters with a total statewide membership of 1,500. Similar Trout Unlimited youth camps are offered around the country. And, while the Trout Unlimited Maine members wanted to bring one here, it took a $10,000 donation from L.L. Bean to make it happen. Herbert said a portion of the money was used to help existing youth-education programs, and the remaining funds were used as seed money to establish the weeklong conservation fly-fishing camp. Bowie said the camp will cost as much as $13,000. Sponsors and donations and help from volunteers will help make it possible, he said. Now, the Trout Unlimited Maine members are just as excited about helping the chosen campers to fish for conservation solutions as they are to fish for trout. Whether the 12 youths whose applications are accepted to the Trout Camp will become politically motivated fishermen is unclear. They may just want to go for the price of $275. (Trout Unlimited offers scholarship funds for those who need it.) Or they may just go for the fishing. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if in 10 or 20 years tomorrow's conservation advocates are telling stories about how they learned to fly-fish at Maine's Trout Camp. Maybe by then it will be called a Conservation Camp. Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:
|
||||||