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About Us

Mission

The goal of the Michigan Trout Unlimited Youth Conservation And Trout Camp is to provide a safe and fun environment for campers to learn the values of Trout Unlimited: To Conserve, Protect and Restore Michigan’s Cold Water Fisheries and their Watersheds, and teaching the campers the basic skills and techniques of catching Michigan’s wild trout.

Vision

Attending camp is considered important in increasing a youth’s knowledge: enhancing their growth and education.  By contributing to the camper’s development we hope to encourage them to share their experience with family and community and become leaders in their communities in the future.

Values

The Kalamazoo Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited with Michigan Trout Unlimited has been proud to host Michigan Youth Conservation and Trout Camp since 1997.  Adults from all over the state and elsewhere bring their many years of experience in fishing as well as conservation to ensure a quality program.

 We hope to help campers develop self-esteem, character, courage, responsibility and cooperation.  Quality camp experiences will help them grow into strong, considerate, competent adults.

We believe that each of us plays an important role in the stewardship of the environment.  We help campers grow into responsible citizens by teaching them to appreciate, respect and care for the world in which we live.

Diversity Statement

The Michigan Trout Unlimited Youth Camp embraces diversity and recognizes its responsibility to foster an open, welcoming experience where campers and counselors of all backgrounds can learn and serve. Diversity enriches the learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusion is practiced. That campers can be their authentic selves, is a core value of the camp experience.

Goals

  • Provide a camp environment of fun and safe educational experiences for all campers and counselors
  • Provide the basic understanding of what makes Michigan unique when it comes to cold clean water, good stream habitat and needed restoration work to maintain the same
  • Provide the campers with the skills to tie flies or make spinners
  • Provide educational presentations from experts in the fields of ecology, hydrology and macro-invertebrate studies
  • Provide hands on work in an actual stream restoration project
  • Outreach to all Michigan Trout Unlimited Chapters to encourage them to find youngsters to attend the summer youth trout camp 
  • Encourage MITU chapters to provide programs that will keep their campers engaged in chapter events after camp
  • Expand Trout Unlimiteds footprint to individuals with non-traditional and diverse backgrounds
  • Encourage campers to reach out to their local chapters to get involved in chapter events
  • Encourage campers to strive to return to camp as junior counselors or adult counselors in future camps
  • Fundraise to cover camp costs and make camp available and possible for all campers regardless of financial situation