Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited members supported Paw Paw Middle School’s Salmon in the Classroom program on their salmon release day. Members of the community, conservation organizations and the Michigan DNR joined KVCTU in educating students about salmonid life-cycle, safe fish handling, conservation efforts and stream restoration.
An important part of a broader culture of service, work in our area communities helps increase our footprint and impact, while ensuring a variety of opportunities for our members to make a difference.
With nearly 40 volunteers at two different job sites, our Chapter really put its words to work. We partnered with the Friends of Rice Creek to begin the long-awaited restoration of the Holt-Rice Creek property and Rice Creek in Marshall. We had crews cutting in trails to span the entire length of the property and angler access points along the way, and crews in the water freeing natural springs and accelerating water flow.
On Saturday, April 13th, the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited hosted a Tie-One-On with TU event, partnered with the Trout Unlimited Great Lakes Program. The day began with a screening of the Fly Fishing Film Fest, and was followed by free fly tying, cold beer and good times with more than thirty members and friends.
Casting for Recovery (CfR) has been a National 501(c)(3) since 1996.
CfR offers fly fishing retreats at no charge to breast cancer survivors nationwide. Retreats are open to women with breast cancer of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery. For over 25 years, women from all walks of life have benefitted from CfR’s inspiring program model.
CfR currently offers 60 retreats across the country, serving over 800 women each year. To date over 11,000 women with breast cancer have benefitted from the healing power of nature.
CfR – Michigan Program volunteer team has managed fundraising, outreach, and retreat coordination since 2016.
Fundraising challenges has limited our retreat offering to a single annual retreat each year.
Applications are currently being accepted for the CfR – MI 2024 retreat August 23, 24, 25 at Barothy Lodge on the Pere Marquette River.
Deadline to apply is June 13, 2024.
https://castingforrecovery.org/retreats/
A lottery drawing managed by the National office, will select 14 participants to attend the 2024 CfR-MI retreat.
This year, Casting for Recovery has adopted a new initiative, to locally source waders and other gear for their Michigan retreat:
KVCTU has agreed to provide those waders, along with stream stewards and helpers for the retreat. This is a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of others, and connects people to nature and to our waterways.
If you’d like to help Casting for Recovery with their mission:
Check out fundraising efforts on eBay by seeking out CfR.Michigan.
Contact us at castingforrecoverymi@gmail.com to make your donation.
We are so happy to provide the MarLee School in Marshall, MI with a new, complete setup for their Salmon in the Classroom! Mr. Stolberg experienced the biggest fear of all for SIC teachers: his tank chiller failed over Christmas break, and all of the egg frys died. We were glad to provide Russ with not only a new chiller, but a new tank, support elements, and data collection tools. KVCTU supports our educators and Salmon in the Classroom!
