GBTU Significant Contributor to Fourth Annual TU Youth Conservation Camp

The fourth annual NH TU Youth Conservation Camp was held July 14-18 in Pittsburg, NH, with home base being Metallak Lodge on the shores of First Connecticut Lake, just minutes from the trophy stretch of the Connecticut River. Members of GBTU made up a significant percentage of the staff, with the chapter President, Vice President and Secretary (Mitch Kalter, Mark Seymour and Wendy Nixon), chapter members and guides Sean Smith and Patrick Ard, and Dover resident and guide, Mark Foley, all serving as counselors/instructors during the 5 day camp. Yvonne Nanasi served as the Camp Director, this the first year the camp is being run by the NH TU Council, with GBTU having originated and run the camp for the past three years.

The campers, 7 males and 1 female, ranged in age from 14-16 this year, many with no fly fishing experience. Classes in everything from casting to entomology, and knot tying to fly tying were given. In addition the campers spent a morning with Joe Norton, TU National's Connecticut Home Rivers Director, discussing Indian Stream, a tributary of the Upper Connecticut River, and the restoration work being done there as part of the Connecticut Home Rivers Project. The campers also had a direct hand in that restoration by planting 120 trees to stabilize the banks and provide shade for the stream not far from its confluence with the Connecticut River. The campers also experienced "rock snot" first hand, and learned and practiced the appropriate actions to help prevent its spread.

Premier NH guide, Angus Boezeman, gave a guest lecture to the campers one evening, talking about the importance of "adopting a river" of their own, and being its steward. He also talked about his nymphing strategy and technique, and was as usual, funny, entertaining and informative.

The campers also met the area's Conservation Officer and discussed his duties and responsibilities, toured a private trout hatchery, electro shocked a portion of the Connecticut River with NH F&G biologist Diane Timmins, and of course spent several hours each day practicing their newly obtained knowledge and skills on the waters of the Connecticut River and Indian Stream. The fishing, while great, was only the icing on the cake for an event which hopes to help generate and foster tomorrow's conservation leaders. Great Bay TU would like to thank everyone that worked so hard to make this camp successful for another year.