Parent – Youth Fly Fishing Day 2009
Located in Events
Click here for information on the 2012 Parent – Youth Fly Fishing Day
Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Colorado Springs, CO and Catamount Institute, Colorado Springs, CO formed an educational partnership for this year’s 4th Annual Parent – Youth Fly Fishing Day held on June 20, 2009 at Catamount Institute’s 144 acre mountain campus in Woodland Park, CO.
“The day was meant to be fun and bring families together in a learning environment with the hopes of planting the seed of conservation and sportsmanship that will last a lifetime” said then CMCTU President, Jack Hunter.
This year’s participants, ages 12-17, and their parents or guardians, received instruction in programs focused on coldwater conservation and restoration, basic entomology, aquatic biology as well as hands on fly tying. Fly fishing instruction on casting and fishing ethics was taught on one of Catamount Institute’s spring-fed ponds, which yielded wild brook trout and stocked rainbow trout to all participants.
Mr. Hunter was quick to add that “although CMCTU generally supports and encourages a Catch and Release philosophy, our goal in this case was to teach kids real world lessons in ethics and conservation tactics that they can apply on the ground. One of those lessons is that there is a place for harvesting wildlife. The important thing is to teach them when that’s appropriate and when it’s not.” Beginners who caught trout were allowed to take them home.
Instrumental in the 4th Annual Parent-Youth Fly Fishing Day was CMCTU’s Director at Large, Sam Humpert. “We are very excited to have formed this educational partnership with the Catamount Institute.” said Mr. Humpert. “The Catamount Institute and Trout Unlimited have parallel missions of environmental education and stewardship. We are really looking forward to future educational programs and events we can develop together with the folks at the Catamount Institute.”
Tracy Jackson, Education Coordinator at Catamount Institute, also appreciated the shared vision the organizations have for inspiring ecological stewardship. “I am impressed with the depth of knowledge, the care and concern CMCTU members show for the coldwater lakes and streams of the world. I am looking forward to working more closely with CMCTU to expand these unique opportunities to our after-school and summer science-education students, who are often underserved and economically disadvantaged.”
One of Jackson’s priorities in developing Catamount Institute’s education programs is providing new opportunities that are often considered inaccessible. “Most people don’t care about things they haven’t experienced or don’t feel connected with. Fly fishing is one way to provide that personal connection to the outdoors. Trout Unlimited does an outstanding job of educating adults and youth alike to conserve, protect, and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds. Fly fishing is sustainability on a level everyone can understand.”
Sponsors for the 4th Annual Parent – Youth Fly Fishing Day included Orvis and LL Bean. Both corporations generously donated fly rods and reels to the event to ensure all participants were properly equipped to enjoy a day of environmental learning and fly fishing on the north slope of Pikes Peak.
Click here for information on the 2012 Parent – Youth Fly Fishing Day
