The Day Camp is for NoCO high school age 14-18 young men and women and is open to the general public. The Day Camp provides experiential learning, field and classroom activities across six days (8:00am-6:00pm) introducing riparian conservation concepts and remedies, and engaging youths to enjoy and respect our river resources and wild species. Content is balanced between conservation topics and fly fishing hands-on topics and activities.
Indoor and field classes and activities educate campers about NoCO watersheds, benefits and problems of transbasin diversions transporting water from the West Slope to the Front Range, basic elements necessary for healthy water species and threats to them, and the necessity for conservation measures. Campers complete a conservation project under guidance of Colorado Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologists.
Professionals from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, West Greeley Conservation District, Trout Unlimited and other partner organizations serve as expert instructors and venue hosts for conservation subjects.
Rocky Mountain Flycasters volunteers serve as fishing skills instructors on the Poudre and Big Thompson Rivers and on public ponds and private waters at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.
Following is a sample of Day Camp classes and activities:
**Casting
**Conservation Restoration Project
**River and Stillwater Fishing
**Entomology (aka "Bugs!")
**Water Safety
**Trout Anatomy and Behavior
**Dry and Nymph Techniques
**Fish Hatchery visits
**Fly Tying and Fishing Knots
**Snorkeling (Underwater Habitat)
**River Ecology
**Electrofishing and Species Identification
**Riparian Habitat
**Invasive Species