We received the following letter from a youth member who has attended several youth camps describing her experience. Note that the chapter will cover the cost of attendance for any youth selected in our area (you don’t need to be a member of the chapter) to attend the Rivers Conservation Flyfishing Camp or the Wildlife Leadership Brookies camp. See the links below for the information on how to apply to a youth camp.
Hi, My name is Samantha.
I’ve been a member with Trout Unlimited for about 3 years now. During that time, I’ve helped with different projects such as trash clean up, conservation project, and helped out with the women’s fly-fishing event, which I enjoyed all as it has helped me learn so much more about my passion for outdoors.
I was selected last winter to attend the Rivers Conservation and Fly-Fishing Camp at Messiah College sponsored by Trout Unlimited. There I learned more about fly fishing, fly tying and the importance of habitat and cold clean water.
I also attended Field Schools at the Wildlife Leadership Academy. They have many different schools. Last year I attended Brookies school where we studied macro invertebrates, did a habitat project on the stream at the camp, studied fish pathology, and photographed nature and wrote about what we saw. I enjoyed the time here so much I worked hard to become a student mentor at Bass school this year. I also applied to and was accepted to the Turkey camp as a student. There I learned a lot about wild turkey and how they were brought back from being a rare occurrence to being a regular sight in our forest. I even won for best wildlife photo. I also had the opportunity to attend two of the Wildlife Leadership Academies special school weekends: Forest stewardship and Steppingstones, an introduction to fly fishing and fly tying. I appreciate all the Allegheny Mountain Chapter financial support and letting me know these opportunities exist and make these events all possible.
Some of the highlights of what I have learned and goals
(1) How stocked trout shouldn’t be stocked in streams with wild trout. We need to come up with as many ideas as we all can to stop them from stocking the class A streams. The sooner the better as the wild trout will not survive if they continue to stock Class a streams. So, I’m trying to get the word out to save the streams.
(2) I’ve also learned what it takes to protect the environment from all the bad things that impact water.
(3) My plan is after I graduate High School I would like to go onto college in the wildlife field.
(4) If anyone would like to know more about these or other schools or needs help in trying to protect our wild trout I will be happy to help.
Thank You Samantha S.
For additional information:
Rivers Conservation Flyfishing Camp:
Wildlife Leadership Academy:
Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited 
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