Allenberry Resort
"On the Yellow Breeches"
Boiling Springs Pennsylvania

Sunday Through Friday
June 15-20, 2008

The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited is again offering its award winning Rivers Conservation and fly Fishing Youth Camp in June 2008  The camp is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council and hosted by the Cumberland Valley Chapter.  In its eighth season the camp was bestowed the honor of Coldwater Volunteer Conservationist of the Year by national Trout Unlimited at its meeting in August of 2001. 

The purpose of the camp is to educate students in the importance of coldwater conservation.  The selection of the thirty-two students is a rigorous process.  In addition to the application form, each candidate must submit a written essay on why they wish to attend and submit the name, address and phone number of a guidance counselor or science teacher as a reference.  By selecting the leaders in high school today, it is felt that they will be the leaders of the communities in years to come.  It is important for them to recognize the importance clean water and how it relates to everyday living.  The curriculum has been structured to provide the necessary foundation for that education.

The classes are college level classes that have been distilled to provide the students with a background in fundamental science and how it will apply to daily life.  Classes include Principles of Ecology, Hydrogeology, Aquatic Vertebrate and Invertebrate Sampling, Hydrology, Trout Behavior, Trout Stream Entomology, The Biology of Pollution, Acid Deposition and The Politics of Conservation and The Effects of Humans on the Chesapeake Bay.

While this is a learning experience of a lifetime, it is not all work.  There are structured classes in fly tying, fly casting, streamside ethics, angling literature, the evolution of an angler wader safety and survival and streamside botany.  These classes are designed to provide a balance to the textbook classes.

The faculty of the camp is a list of leaders in their respective fields.  They come from all walks of life and have an interest in conservation.  State agencies such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provide some of the faculty.  Dr. Robert Behnke of Colorado State University is among the faculty and is considered the foremost trout biologist in the world.  Leading experts in the fly fishing community also volunteer their time and talents to provide a faculty that is well rounded. 

The students will also have the opportunity to participate in a stream project to repair habitat in a stream.  This event is designed for the students to complete while they are at camp in order that they can observe first hand the effects of their efforts.

In addition, there will be time for fishing on the world famous Yellow Breeches Creek.  The fishing sessions are conducted from 5 a.m. until 7 a.m. every morning and from 6 p.m. until dark each evening.  The students are advised and tutored by ghillies comprised of Trout Unlimited members.  They are there to provide technical and moral support to the burgeoning fly anglers.  The angling is conducted in the Catch and Release section of the Yellow Breeches at Allenberry made famous by the writings of Vince Marinaro, Charlie Fox, Ed Shenk, Ed Koch and others. 

In 1995 the late Dr. Jack Beck met with the late E.S. “Inky” Moore, Jr. to discuss the possibility of holding a camp dedicated to the idea of teaching young people about the importance of coldwater conservation.  As Jack said, “There are camps for basketball and football, cheerleading and computers.  Why isn’t there a camp to teach youngsters about the importance of coldwater conservation?”  From that initial meeting, an idea was formed.  Inky had been instrumental in establishing various other youth programs in the outdoors but this program was to be something different.  The two gentlemen selected a steering committee, assigned tasks and set about the business of making the camp happen.  The camp was to be sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and hosted by the Cumberland Valley chapter.  It was a monumental effort but their hard work and persistence paid off and, in June of 1995 the first Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp was held at Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs. 

Immediately following that first camp, a meeting was held among the steering committee to decide what worked and what didn’t.  The schedule was adjusted, courses were added and another day was added to bring the camp to its current length.  In 1996 the second camp was conducted and the committee proved that it was more than a one time effort.   In December of 1997 Dr. Beck passed away leaving a huge void in the character of the camp.  State council set up a special award in his memory, the Dr. Jack Beck Youth Education Award.  New members stepped in to help fill the gap left by Jack’s passing.  Inky, a driving force since the inception of the camp, took over many of Jack’s responsibilities.  The move was made to begin incorporation of the camp and make it a 501(c)3 charitable organization. 

In the fall of 2000, following the sixth successful camp, Inky passed away.  It was his wish that an endowment be created to operate the camp and provide scholarships for students who needed them.  Following his passing the incorporation was finalized and an endowment was begun in his name. 

In August of 2001 the Rivers Conservation and Fly fishing Youth Camp received the Volunteer Conservationist of the year award from National Trout Unlimited.  In October of 2001 the camp received the Dr. Jack Beck Youth Education Award from the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.  Jack and Inky would grumble and complain if they knew of these awards.  But, on the other hand, they would be proud of the camp and the accomplishments of their successors   The camp also made national news in 2001 when TUTV a nationally shown fly fishing show visited the camp to film.  The show is aired on ESPN2.

This year the camp will be providing an opportunity for students who are Boy Scouts to complete their merit badges in Fly Fishing and Fishing.  Students who wish to avail themselves of this opportunity must contact the camp after they have been accepted for further details.

As the camp goes into its thirteenth season, the staff and instructors are excited about the prospect of conducting another camp.  The students are the best and brightest and they are tomorrow’s leaders.  It is not the intent of the camp to create 32 aquatic biologists every year.  Rather, it is the intent to instill in these bright and talented youngsters the importance of coldwater conservation.  Ten years down the road, when they are bankers, realtors, lawyers, elected officials or members of Trout Unlimited chapters, it is hoped they will remember the lessons they learned at Allenberry, when they have to make tough real world decisions.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

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