Fly fish coaching
The third annual Great Smoky Mountains Trout Adventure Camp for middle school girls and boys, sponsored by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited, will be June 17–22, 2013, at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Trout Adventure is designed to give kids an appreciation and understanding of the importance of our aquatic resources with an emphasis on conservation, protection and restoration of coldwater ecosystems. Participants learn about stream ecology, brook trout restoration, stream physics and chemistry, fishing etiquette and aquatic entomology. They experience fly tying, fly fishing and snorkeling in Little River and its Middle Prong, along with some hiking and swimming.
Trout Unlimited partners with GSMIT, a private, nonprofit, residential environmental learning center that has operated since 1969 in the national park. The institute’s mission is to provide natural and cultural resources, educational programs, workshops and camps for groups of all ages.
GSMIT is in Walker Valley on the banks of Little River’s Middle Prong, a coldwater stream containing brook, brown and rainbow trout. Facilities include dormitories, dining hall, classrooms, outdoor meeting shelters, bookstore/gift shop and full-time professional staff.
Trout Adventure 2013 will begin on Monday afternoon, June 17, and end at noon on Saturday, June 22. Boys and girls 12 to 15 years old as of June 17 are eligible to apply; Trout Unlimited will accept a total of 14 participants. Tuition is $472; insurance coverage is supplied by GSMIT. Financial assistance based on need may be available.
Campers should be in good physical condition. While the camp is not akin to a military boot camp, activities may be more physically demanding than some boys and girls are accustomed to.
Youngsters interested in attending 2013 Trout Adventure must complete an application form, available at http://www.tntroutadventure.org. Applications are being accepted now and must be submitted no later than March 15, 2013; selections will be made by March 20. Applications should be mailed or e-mailed to: John Thurman, P.O. Box 546, Norris, TN 37828; jthur727@bellsouth.net. Tremont policy requires at least two girls, if girls are selected.
All applicants will be notified of their selection status no later than March 25, 2013. When families are notified that their children have been selected, they will be provided with a GSMIT registration form; TU will be happy to help families complete this form.
Mountain fly fishing