WE INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION – HELP US INVEST IN THE FUTURE
The future of cold, clean rivers and streams depends on a steady stream of advocates and conservationists stepping forward to roll up their sleeves, raise their voices and invest their time and talent. To make this vision a reality, the Gunnison Gorge Anglers Chapter dedicates hundreds of hours a year connecting kids to the outdoors, providing meaningful watershed and environmental education opportunities and mentoring burgeoning young conservationists. We also teach fly tying and casting, and love getting young people out on the water.
Our youth education work relies on volunteers and supporters to be successful and thanks to all of you, we are able to:
- Teach casting, fly tying, and conservation ideals to hundreds of area students at Cottonwood Days on the Lower Gunnison River
- Guarantee two scholarships annually to Colorado Trout Unlimited’s Summer Youth Camp in Almont, CO
- Lead youth and family fishing days across the region and partner with organizations like the Montrose Lion’s Club for youth fishing derbies
- Support Montrose and Telluride schools in the Trout in the Classroom program
Cottonwood Days is an annual, week-long event hosted by the BLM and Colorado Canyons Association in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Middle schoolers from Delta and the North Fork Valley are able to see the NCA and learn about the landscape, wildlife, cultural significance, and fishing on the Gunnison River. GGA volunteers teach entomology, fly tying, and casting, and have been led by Ed Kehoe during his dedicated 17 years of organizing the event.
Support our youth education work today! As an all-volunteer organization, we need your time, expertise and donations to continue our great work. Please contact us or attend an event to get involved!
HEADWATERS YOUTH PROGRAM
TU’s Headwaters Youth Program contains a developmental model called the “Stream of Engagement” that strives to provide opportunities for involvement at all ages and interest levels. Some programs like Trout in the Classroom and STREAM Girls put a heavy focus on watershed-based STEM learning, while others like the TU Summer Trout Camps and Academies serve as Fly Fishing 101 experiences for teen participants. With an evolving high school club program and college capstone called the TU 5 Rivers on over 100 college campuses across the U.S. we are keeping youth connected to conservation into adulthood.
Headwaters also offers youth memberships, Stream Explorers (ages 12 and under) and TU Teens (ages 13 to 17), that contain fun elements such as a trout-focused kids’ magazine, Stream Explorers and Teen stickers, and fun premium items like hats, books and logoed youth fly rods.
Learn more at www.tu.org/headwaters
Pictured: Marshall Pendergrass demonstrates fly casting for Delta middle schoolers at annual Cottonwood Days