Trout campers fish mountain streams under the tutelage of veteran fly anglers. Image by Frances Hamilton Oates. |
KNOXVILLE — The fifth annual Great Smoky Mountains Trout Adventure Camp for middle school girls and boys will be June 15–20 at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is sponsored by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited.
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.
GSMIT is a private, nonprofit residential environmental learning center in Walker Valley on the banks of 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 2015 will begin on Monday afternoon, June 15, and end at noon on Saturday, June 20. Girls and boys 12 to 15 years old as of June 15 will attend; Trout Unlimited accepts a total of 14 participants (a minimum of two girls). Tuition is $495; insurance coverage is supplied by GSMIT.
The application period has ended for this year, but mark your calendar to apply online next year at www.tntroutadventure.org. Alternatively, applications can be mailed or emailed to John Thurman, jthur727@bellsouth.net, P.O. Box 546, Norris, TN 37828. Applicants are notified of their status within three days of receipt of their application.
Campers should be in good physical condition. While Trout Adventure is not akin to a military boot camp, activities may be more physically demanding than some boys and girls are accustomed to.
Financial assistance may be available through your area’s Trout Unlimited chapter.
