by Geoff Elliot, Youth Education Coordinator, Colorado Trout Unlimited

Summer 2021 brought a return to in-person programming and opportunities! With the recent success of the STREAM Girls program in reaching new audiences of elementary through middle-school girls and their families, CTU sought opportunities to adapt the program to reach new, diverse audiences. Fortunately, we were not alone in seeing this opportunity and could build off the STREAM Keepers resources developed by other TU volunteers and staff.

With the goal of reaching new and diverse audiences, we knew this effort could not be achieved alone. To help us build the STREAM Keepers program in Colorado, we collaborated with youth serving organizations, community coalitions, and school districts. In partnership with these groups, CTU worked to refine the curriculum and identify suitable locations to connect participants with their watersheds. In the end, the STREAM Keepers program focused on watershed exploration, fly casting/fishing, macroinvertebrate sampling, and fly tying (if time allowed).

In June and July, CTU hosted three STREAM Keepers events in partnership with Littleton Public Schools Extended Middle School, Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement – A GOCO Generation Wild Coalition, and Lincoln Hills Cares. Across these three collaborations, CTU connected with 100 youth and families. This included students who struggled amidst the pandemic, Spanish-speaking families, and youth from immigrant communities. With Littleton Public Schools, students explored Lee Gulch, competed in a casting olympics, and learned to tie a midge pattern. In partnership with Lincoln Hills Cares and Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement, youth and families enjoyed on-site fishing opportunities (with some participants catching fish) and macroinvertebrate sampling in small stream! At the conclusion of these STREAM Keepers programs, participants expressed their excitement to continue fly fishing and share their appreciation for local watersheds.

A big THANK YOU goes out to the volunteers who led and facilitated activities during each program, as well as the partners who recruited and provided space for these events! Colorado Trout Unlimited is excited to continue to build the STREAM Keepers program by cultivating new partnerships and further developing existing ones to provide increased access to watershed exploration experiences and fly fishing opportunities! If you are interested in learning more about STREAM Keepers, other opportunities in the Headwaters Youth Program, or how to support CTU’s youth education program, please contact youth@coloradotu.org!