Trout Camp Curriculum

The Maine TU Trout Camp curriculum is designed to make every student successful. While covering subjects like water assessment, life cycles, invasive species and pollution, they'll be interspersed and completed within a fly-fishing environment, engaging students while they have fun and learn. Here's a description of the camp activities and our 2008 camp schedule:

Camp Schedule in Word format
Camp Schedule in PDF format

Activities:

Camp Rules and Orientation:
The director will introduce the staff followed by a review of the rules of conduct for the camp week with the students and parents. The camp week curriculum, meal hours, and campground layout will then be discussed.

Getting Started:
Basic casting technique will be introduced and taught to the twelve students with L.L. Bean 8’ 6” Streamlight fly rods with 5 weight large arbor fly reels.

Equipment Check, Safety Discussion and Fly Fishing Etiquette:

Student fly fishing equipment will be assessed and loaner fly fishing equipment will be assigned as needed for the students use during the camp week. Wader safety and fishing etiquette will be discussed and demonstrated on the shore and in the Kennebec River.

Knot Discussion and Tying:
Knot tying for fly fishing will be demonstrated and taught at the Kennebec Valley TU tent.
Discussion and demonstrations of knots needed to tie the backing to the spool, the backing to the fly line, the leader to the fly line, the tippet to the leader and various other knots for tying flies to the tippet.

Fly Tying Parts 1, 2, 3:
These fly tying seminars will introduce and teach the students to ty wets, streamers, nymphs, and dry flies in a skills-oriented approach at the Main lodge. Special emphasis on tying flies that can be used by the students during the camp week will be included.

Embden IFW Hatchery:

IFW Hatchery Manager will lead the students on a tour of the most modern trout hatchery in the state of Maine.

Art Class:
Hands on art class for the students to learn how to draw fish at the Main lodge and all art materials will be provided.

Kennebec River Slide Show:

This is a photographic journey of the 164 mile Kennebec River from the headwaters of Moosehead Lake to the oceanfront of Popham Beach

Catch and Release Fishing Nets:

Demonstration on the making of a C&R fishing net with all students participating to make one fishing net.

Reading the Water Parts 1 &2;

In depth discussion of where trout live in brooks, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes and a focus on how to fly fish for them.

Rock Basket Retrieval:

DEP Biologist will present methods and techniques used in real-world stream habitat study, focusing on the use of rock baskets and D-Ring nets. Aquatic life will be quantified andidentified during this activity.  “Hatch Guide for New England Streams” by Thomas Ames Jr. and identification keys will be used for insect identification.

The Way of a Trout:

This is a Trout Unlimited classic video exploring the day-to-day fight to survive… from predators who at various stages of growth include aquatic insects other fish, birds, and animals and only man has the alternative to release the trout to spawn other fish.

Penobscot River Restoration Project:

The Penobscot River Restoration Project is an unprecedented collaboration between hydropower company PPL Corporation, the Penobscot Indian Nation, seven conservation groups, and state and federal agencies, to restore 11 species of sea-run fish to the Penobscot River, while maintaining energy production.

Patagonia 1%:

A Patagonia employee of the Outlet store in Freeport, ME will do a presentation on her job and the company policy since 1985, where Patagonia has pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.

LaMotte Test Kits:
TU volunteers who are certified water quality monitors will present the LaMotte water quality test kit to the students and the students will also be instructed in there use on the Kennebec River.

Trout Dissection:
IFW Pathologist will guide students through the anatomy, physiology and dissection of a trout with a focus on how the fish finds, eats, and digests food. This is a hands-on section, with students performing guided fish dissections.

Stream-side and In-stream Incubation:

ASC Biologist will introduce students to the current Atlantic salmon telemetry study on the Sandy River and the techniques of stream-side and in-stream incubation currently in use to help regenerate Atlantic salmon in Maine.

Trout Fishing in South Africa and England:

A discussion of fly fishing for trout in South Africa and England with a comparison to fly fishing for trout in Maine.

Drift Boats
Three Registered Maine guides will guide 6 students by drift boat on the Kennebec River from Evergreens Campground to Dunphy’s and then from Dunphy’s to North Anson. The first group of 6 students will float after breakfast until lunch and the second group of 6 students will float after lunch until supper.

Life Cycle of Trout

IFW Biologist will teach the students the important aspects of the trout life cycle from egg to maturity at the Williams Pool.

Rock Basket Retrieval at Williams Pool:

Maine TU Trout Camp staff and LL Bean employees will assist the students to locate the rock baskets that were previously placed in the river. The aquatic insects that are found will be identified and if time permits students will fly fish at the pool.

Kennebec River Initiative:

The Kennebec River Initiative recognizes the need for coordinated action to secure for the future the important scenic, ecological, fisheries, wildlife, recreational, cultural, and economic assets of the Kennebec River corridor.

Conservation Talk:

Trout Unlimited National President Charles Gauvin will present a Power-point presentation on TU activities throughout the USA.

Camp Fire Gatherings:

Each evening after fly fishing at the Evergreens Campground the students will sit around the camp fire for one hour before going to bed to tell their fishing stories of what fish they caught but more importantly the story of the big one that got away!

After Lunch Activities

Some of the lunch periods provide an opportunity for additional activities for students. These will be arranged dynamically, based on student interest, weather conditions, etc. Activities would include fly tying, fly casting, aquatic insect identification, time to try-out different rods/reels, and other topics of interest.