The eleventh annual Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp was completed on June 24. The six day residence camp was held at Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs. The thirty-one students who attended the camp were from across Pennsylvania as well as Maine, Virginia and Ohio.

The students were schooled in various scientific concepts including principles of ecology, hydrogeology, watersheds, the biology of pollution, riparian corridors, aquatic entomology and fisheries biology. The keynote address was provided by Robert H. Behnke, Ph.D. one of the world’s foremost authorities on trout and salmon and author of “Trout and Salmon of North America”, of which each student received a signed copy.

Hands on experience was gained when they sampled the Yellow Breeches Creek for macro-invertebrates under the tutelage of Karl Sheaffer and a staff of biologists from both government agencies and the private sector.

Maxine Woelfling provided her legal expertise to the students as they two teams debated an environmental issue in front of a third group of their peers in a mock hearing.

Cadie Pruss of the Mifflin County Conservation District ended the academic sessions with a challenge to the students to become involved in environmental affairs in their communities. Dr. Carl Guerriero, who facilitated the student introductions on the opening day also administered the final evaluation

The students learned first-hand about stream habitat when they completed Phase I of a multi-year project in “The Run” at Boiling Springs. The habitat work was done under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Adopt A Stream Program and was led by Karl Lutz.

In addition to the academic work the students were provided with angling instruction from such notable anglers and fly tiers as Ed Shenk, Dave Rothrock, Kieran Frye, Tim Trexler and Vance McCullough. Denny Moore provided a lighter moment when he described his own evolution as an angler.

Ken Reinard presented an evening class as Ye Olde Colonial Angler and Dwight Landis provided another evening class on the trout streams of Pennsylvania. Catherine Tucker of Virginia and former Commissioner of the Virginia Board of Inland Fisheries, provided a class on stream etiquette to the young anglers before they ever set foot in the stream.

Fishing in the world renowned Yellow Breeches Creek each morning before class and in the evenings after dinner also proved to be a success. The student campers’ success was aided by the guidance of several volunteer ghillies recruited from the ranks of Trout Unlimited.

This year Todd Kriner of Lehighton was awarded the J. Leon Chandler Memorial Award. This award is given in memory of Mr. Chandler, a former Vice President of Cortland Line Company and Chairman of the Board of Trout Unlimited, who passed away in 2004. Leon, as he was known to the staff and students, was a great supporter of the camp. The award is given to a student who best typifies Leon’s ideals.

Applications for Next Year: Applications for the 2006 camp will be accepted starting November1. The 2006 camp will run from June 18 to 23, 2006. The cost is $275 per student and includes room and board. A limited number of scholarships are available.

The camp is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and hosted by the Cumberland Valley Chapter. The camp is designed to educate tomorrow's leaders about the importance of cold water conservation. The applicants must submit a written essay on why they want to attend the camp in addition to a reference from a science teacher or a guidance counselor. The selection process is rigorous and only thirty-two students can be selected each year.

Pennsylvania was the first camp of its kind and the idea has spread to other states. There are now camps based on the Pennsylvania model in Michigan, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, Virginia and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, DCNR and BASS have partnered to sponsor a warmwater camp in Pennsylvania.

For more information you may contact Michael Klimkos at 717-243-3056 (H) 717-787-2103 (W) or send email to: klimkos@epix.net or visit the Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp webpage.

7/8/2005