PAYSON, Ariz.– Summer is the perfect season to get young people away from screens and into the outdoors. This year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is excited to highlight its ongoing partnership with Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit conservation organization, fostering the next generation of anglers in Arizona.
In June, two dozen young people between the ages of 13-17 attended Arizona Fish Camp, a seven-day immersive adventure program hosted by Trout Unlimited near the creeks and lakes of northern Arizona’s Mogollon Rim. With rods and tackle boxes in hand, students learned the fundamentals of fly fishing and fostered a passion for conserving, protecting and restoring Arizona’s freshwater fisheries.
During one camp outing, the students visited AZGFD’s Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery near Payson, Ariz., where they toured the facility alongside hatchery manager Bryce Sisson and got an up close look at the facility’s operations– including the tanks of various sportfish that will soon be stocked across Arizona’s waters.
On Friday, June 26, the group also had the opportunity to meet the Arizona Game and Fish Commission at their public meeting in Payson, where they were greeted with a round of applause.
“This camp is a great partnership between Trout Unlimited and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to showcase the state of Arizona and its diversity of fish and habitat,” said Steve Berry, a Trout Unlimited volunteer and Arizona Fish Camp instructor. “It’s a great program to keep these kids– the next generation of fly fishermen and women– moving forward into the future.”
Trout Unlimited and AZGFD share the belief that creating the next generation of conservationists is vital for the continued protection and restoration of wildlife species and habitat. Trout Unlimited also has partnered with the Department on projects around the state, including habitat restoration, species recovery and data collection.
“The importance of opportunities like this cannot be overstated. In a world where kids have a million choices of online and solitary activities to choose from, implementing a camp such as this where connection with nature and other kids are emphasized are becoming rare,” said Alec Young, Trout Unlimited’s angling recruitment, retention, and reactivation manager. “A huge job well done to the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited and all of the partners that go into making this camp happen each year.”
Arizona has extensive opportunities and destinations to go fishing, from a local pond to a remote mountain stream, but many don’t know where to get started. The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s FishAZ Network is filled with great events for all skill levels by a variety of dedicated partners. For a full list of up to date events, visit: https://register-ed.com/programs/arizona/239-fishaz-network.