Trout Camp

Trout camp is open to any applicant, male or female, age 13 thru 15. Camp is limited to 24 youths and these 24 slots are divided between the 12 Trout Unlimited chapters in the state with each chapter sponsoring two campers. The cost is $600 per camper and the Gold Rush Chapter has a sponsorship of $400* per camper to offset this cost.

Trout camp is held each year at Tallulah Falls school, Tallulah, GA 

The Gold Rush chapter has a screening process for their applicants because we only want to send campers who are genuinely interested in conservation and learning about our great outdoors and resources. The Gold Rush Chapter has a short questionnaire https://goldrushtu.org/gold-rush-trout-camp-application-2020/ that we ask the applicants to fill out first and email to committee chair Bill Nelson, who’s information is at the bottom of this document before the March 20th deadline. We may also set up an interview with potential candidates. The selection committee will then review these and select what we feel will be the best two campers to represent the Gold Rush Chapter at camp.

We realize this is a big decision for parents to let these young people out of their sight for a week and we do not take this lightly. To help make this decision easier, we provide the following safeguards:

1. These young folks are never without adult supervision
2. There is normally at least one adult per child and sometimes more
3. Every adult mentor must submit and pass a background check each year
4. A school nurse is available if needed
5. Room and board are provided and campers (and at least 12 adult mentors) stay in the school dorm at night

These are some of the most pressing concerns the parents normally have. What exactly will these kids be doing at camp? Each camper will receive a fly rod and reel, a fishing vest, flies, fly box, sunglasses, and much more; hundreds of dollars’ worth of equipment that is theirs to bring home. They will fish each day, learn to cast a fly rod, tie knots, tie flies, learn stream etiquette, entomology and more. They will help stock trout into a stream, visit Lake Burton fish hatchery, and attend a class at Smithgall Woods where they will have an “in stream” session finding fish food (bugs). They will assist the DNR and Forest Service in building stream structures for trout. These are a few of the things they will be doing.

The day starts at 6:00 am and the lights are out at 10:00 pm. The day is nonstop and there is absolutely no down time. After the evening meal they will have time to shower and get their gear ready for the next day. As the week goes on, 6:00 am seems to get earlier and earlier! This is a great experience and will hopefully have a positive impact on these young people for the rest of their lives.

Find out more about trout camp at https://georgiatu.org/education/about-trout-camp/

Our deadline for having applications and questionnaires returned is March 20. This will give the selection committee enough time to review all applications, make the selection of what we feel are the best candidates, notify the candidates and reserve a spot for them at camp.

Email Bill Nelson, ne********@***il.com if you’re interested in being sponsored by the Gold Rush Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

* Additional financial aid is available upon candidate review. Gold Rush is focused on ensuring a camper that is 100% engaged and interested can take full advantage of this amazing experience.