Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Natalie Flowers

CTU Camper Registration Now Open!

Experience the CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp

Do you know a teen who loves the outdoors, is curious about conservation, or wants to learn the art of fly fishing? The CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp might be the opportunity they’ve been looking for.

Taking place June 8-14, 2025, at AEI Basecamp in Almont, CO, this camp offers youth aged 14-18 a chance to explore river stewardship, science, and outdoor recreation. Since 2006, our camp has introduced more than 250 teens from Colorado and beyond to conservation and fly fishing while building valuable skills and friendships.

What Makes This Camp Special?

Our camp combines STEM-based conservation education with hands-on fly fishing instruction. Campers learn about conservation by engaging directly with the natural environment they’re working to protect. Activities are designed to be fun and welcoming, connecting a passion for the outdoors with a commitment to conservation.

Here’s what campers will experience:

  • STEM education: Learn about river ecosystems and water management in the west.

  • Fly fishing instruction: Gain skills through one-on-one and group lessons.

  • Conservation projects: Participate in activities that make a tangible impact.

  • New friendships: Meet peers who share similar interests and values.

Who Can Apply?

The camp is open to youth aged 14-18. Applications are open now and must be submitted by April 1, 2025. Campers will be selected based on their responses, including an essay about why they want to attend. First-time applicants will receive preference.

Costs and Scholarships

The 2025 camp tuition is $700, with an additional $50 registration fee. These fees cover meals, gear rentals, and other necessary costs. Campers aged 16 and older will also need to purchase a Colorado Fishing License.

To make this experience accessible, many local Trout Unlimited chapters offer tuition scholarships. If financial assistance is needed, applicants can indicate this on their application, and we’ll work to match them with a scholarship opportunity.

Why Choose CTU Camp?

CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp is about more than just learning new skills. It’s an opportunity to develop a connection to nature and gain practical knowledge in a supportive environment. Campers leave with new abilities, friendships, and an understanding of how conservation efforts and outdoor recreation intersect.

For nearly 20 years, our program has brought together teens with shared interests in conservation and fly fishing. Campers take away valuable experiences that help them grow as individuals and future river stewards.

Apply Today!

Spaces are limited to 20 campers, and applications are due by April 1, 2025, so don’t wait to apply. The application process is straightforward, and scholarships are available to help make camp accessible for everyone.

Don’t miss this chance to learn, grow, and enjoy a week in Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. Apply today to take the first step toward becoming a river steward and fly fishing enthusiast.

Celebrating STREAM Girls with Awesome Kids and A Special Guest Volunteer

Margot giving the Girl Scout Handshake and STREAM Girl patch to Eloise, a participant in the STREAM Girls program.

We had a wonderful STREAM Girls program on Sept. 21st at the CSU Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins. Margo Iwanchuk, Great-Great Niece to Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, was among the volunteers that helped make this program possible.

Margot, an avid angler herself and lifetime Girl Scout said “Aunt Daisy was an avid fly fisher both in Georgia as well as Scotland. Juliette Low, Founder of the Girl Scouts, would approve of TU’s STREAM Girls.”

18 girls attended this event with about 10 volunteers. They learned about the Cache de Pourdre, caught aquatic macroinvertebrate, experienced a hatch of mayflies, and learned some fly fishing skills. At the end of the program the girls (who were all Girl Scouts) received a STREAM Girls patch for their sash.

CTU is excited to continue partnering with Girls Scouts and offering STREAM Girls across the state. Learn more about Juliette Gordon Low, her life, and her legacy on the Girls Scout website. Check out some photos below of the fun we had at STREAM Girls.


2024/25 CTU Trout in the Classroom Year is Ramping Up

This year, Colorado Trout Unlimited has over 70 TIC tanks starting in the 2024/25 TIC Program throughout the state. We are thrilled to welcome our new Regional TIC Coordinators. Audrey Kenney is our new Eastern TIC Coordinator and Danielle Crews is our Western TIC Coordinator. As we work to onboard these incredible people, we are also celebrating our successes from our 2023/24 TIC program and 2024 TIC Training. CTU is also thankful for our donors and supporters. Without them, this impactful program and our Regional TIC Coordinators would not be possible.

We engaged over 15,000 youth, educators, and community members through the 2023/24 TIC program! Our TIC Training Coordinator, Dr. Allison Baas, played a key role in the success of our 2024 TIC Trainings this summer. We hosted several sessions, with 20 educators and volunteers attending the training near Grand Junction, 28 at the CSU Spur TIC Training, and 18 at the TIC Training held at Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK). Additionally, we now offer a comprehensive Virtual TIC Training for educators and volunteers.

A big thank you to Dr. Allison Baas for her dedication and hard work in making these TIC Trainings possible, and to Dr. Martin Harris, our volunteer TIC Statewide Coordinator, for his continued support, time, and commitment.

Check out some pictures from the TIC Trainings below!

Thank you to our TU Chapters for their programmatic and financial support of this program. Many foundations such as A. Alfred Taubman, Williams, Justin Brooks Fisher, and Levy Memorial Fund and private donors like Mac Cunningham, Adinoff Family, and several other individual donors have given so generously to the TIC program to help support our capacity growth and TIC program sustainability. Also companies like First Bank and Cabelas/Bass Pro are helping by contributing funding as well. We are so grateful for all this past and continued support!

We are still continuing to fundraise and always looking for additional volunteers to continue to support this ever-growing and impactful program, as well as our other Headwaters Youth Programs. Please reach out to Natalie Flowers, CTU Youth Education Coordinator if you have questions or are able to help.

2024 River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp - Another HUGE Success!

Last week (June 9th - 15th) Colorado Trout Unlimited volunteers and partners came together in Almont, CO to host this year’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp. This year we had 23 adventurous teens attend from all over Colorado and beyond. We also had 15 Senior Counselors and 6 Junior Counselors volunteer and help lead, mentor, and guide our campers this year.

Below are some fun preliminary pictures from this year’s camp!

A special thank you goes out to our incredible volunteer staff: Barbara Luneau - Camp Director and our Senior and Junior Counselors - Cameron Bratina, Grant Compton, Jon Gartz, Stahsic Green, Josh Greene, David Haeusler, Mark Hanson, Reau Heinitz, Joe Johnson, Audrey Kenney, Chris Lamson, Daven Masche, Jonathan Onken, Mark Rayman, Trenton Sendziak, Dick Shinton, Ben Ward, Levi Ward, and Jim Williams

We also humbly thank our program partners, CTU & TU Staff, and speakers: Dan Branch, Aquatic Biologist for CPW; Cole Brittain, Fisheries Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Joshua Duplechian, TU Senior Producer; Natalie Flowers, CTU Youth Education Coordinator; Rachel Juritsch, Adams County 4-H CSU Extension; Bianka Martinez, Ambassador and National Program Coordinator for Hunters of Color; Sarah Porterfield, TU Water Policy Associate; Liz Werner from Adams County 4-H CSU Extension; and Roaring Judy Hatchery Staff.

We are so grateful and this camp could not be done without you!

Trout in the Classroom Biggest Release Year Yet!

Over 45 Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Sites have released the rainbow trout, they raised since October, into local watersheds. This year we had over 60 sites/schools participate in the TIC program, and thus far 2,865 trout have been released. We still have a few more schools set to release, but overall, the program has been a huge success and our biggest year yet.

Some schools even made the local news and made videos of their TIC Release Events!

Ute Pass Elementary TIC Release Event

Shepardson STEM Elementary TIC Release video.

We are excited to announce some additional capacity and training that will be added to the 2024/25 TIC Program. This summer we will be offering three (possibly more) TIC trainings for educators and TU Chapter Coordinators/Volunteers. Check out our dates and events below.

Charles Hay Wood TIC Release Event

Grand River Academy TIC Release Event

Outdoor Wilderness Lab TIC Release Event

To help with this training we have hired a part-time seasonal employee (who will be starting in late May/early June) and we will be hiring two part-time TIC Seasonal Coordinators (one from the Front Range and one for the Western Slope). These new TIC Coordinators will help coordinate the TIC program during the school year, support our TIC Sites and Educators, and connect the program more with CTU, TU, and TU Chapters.

Save the Date for 2024 STREAM Programs!

We are excited to announce several STREAM Programs in 2024!

STREAM Programs are incredible environmental education programs for youth, families, and the community that incorporates river conservation, outdoor exploration, and fly fishing skills. We take the traditional STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) educational model and add recreation and arts to create STREAM. CTU works closely with TU Chapters and Partner Organizations to make these programs possible.

Check out our upcoming 2024 STREAM Programs below!

Please note that some of these programs are open to the public for registration and some are in partner events that serve a specific audience. Click the links below for more information.

Registration is Now Open for CTU's River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp

We are excited to announce registration is open for our River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp!

CTU Camp is for youth 14 - 18 years old and we accept 20 campers each year. Campers spend a week together in the mountains near Almont, CO. This inclusive camp is a special place where teens find acceptance and make forever friendships with others who share their passion for the river, fly fishing, and conservation.

Camp Details

Eligibility: Youth 14 - 18 years old
Cost: $650 (tuition), plus $50 registration fee
*SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE*
Applications Deadline: April 1, 2024

CTU Camp aims to inspire the next generation of river stewards and conservation-minded anglers. By providing youth with a safe, fun, and inclusive environment, we learn together how conservation, a passion for the outdoors, and fly fishing are beautifully connected.

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Trout in the Classroom Eggs Have Hatched!

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We are thrilled to announce that 65 TIC tanks across Colorado received Rainbow Trout eggs, donated by CPW’s Crystal River Hatchery, in late October. These eggs have now hatched and are in their alevin stage! Check out some of our outstanding TIC Sites and Students as they celebrate this incredible program!

Video from Estes Park Elementary School

Video from the Academy of Charter Schools

We need your help to support the Trout in the Classroom program across the state of Colorado.

Learn About Our New CTU STREAM Program Opportunities

We are excited to expand our STREAM Program offerings into a spectrum of river conservation, outdoor exploration, and angling STREAM programs. Traditionally CTU has been successful in hosting several STREAM Girl and STREAM Keeper program and we now have the ability to expand, adapt, and create unique STREAM programs to fit your TU Chapter area, Partner Organization, age demographic, diverse audience, and community. Check out our updated web pages below and our new program resources page.

We are also offering a STREAM Programs Rendezvous session on Saturday, Oct. 21st at 4 pm in Glenwood Springs on the Colorado River! Click here for more information about this session and others at our upcoming CTU Rendezvous.

2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp - Building Leaders While Building Leaders

This year’s CTU River Conservation & Fly Fishing (RCFF) Camp was June 11th - 17th in Almont, CO, and was a huge success! After receiving several camp counselor applications (from 2022 campers and returning Junior Counselors) as well as new camper applications, we had the excellent idea to not only accept 20 awesome campers but also accept 12 Junior Camp Counselors at this year’s RCFF Camp!

Each of these Junior Counselors had already completed camp. This year, they had the opportunity to build up their leadership, teamwork, and angling skills as they helped lead small groups, guided campers, and helped the Seasoned Counselors keep camp organized.

This morphed beautifully into incredible relationships between our Campers, Junior Counselors, and Seasoned Counselors. Seasoned Counselors introduced discussion topics, while Junior Counselors led small groups of interested Campers. Campers received one-on-one tips from leading Seasoned and Junior Counselors as they fished, tied flies, designed posters, and even learned how to build their own fishing leaders!

Campers grew in their angling skills and confidence throughout the week, and Junior Counselors grew in their leadership skills. This leadership model for CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp helped streamline some of the organizational parts of the camp. Still, it also allowed us as an organization to promote our ‘Stream of Engagement’ model for the CTU Headwaters Youth Programs. Through this program delivery model, we strive to engage new participants in our Youth Programs and ensure that people of any age can "plugin" to TU and continue their relationship with coldwater conservation and fly fishing through various age-appropriate opportunities and programs.

CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp is not only teaching how to build fishing leaders but also building leaders within Trout Unlimited and fostering the next generation of river conservationists and anglers! Thank you to all the Camp Counselors, Volunteers, Campers, and Camp Supporters! We could not do this without you!