Click here or press “play” below to watch the recording of the zoom meeting.
The Colorado Springs Chapter of Project Healing Waters (COS PHW) is the largest in the organization and has around 700 participants. Most participants are new to fly fishing, and many are new to fishing of any kind. All are looking for an enjoyable day on the water to heal whatever ails them. In partnership with the COS PHW, our Chapter will be hosting two fishing outings for disabled veterans. The first will be at Frantz Lake on Saturday April 18, and the second will be at Chalk Lake on Wednesday July 22. Each outing will be for 10 participants with beginning to intermediate fly fishing skills. COS PHW will provide participants with casting and fishing instruction, fly fishing gear, and transportation to the outings. We will provide the venue, a fishing mentor for each participant, flies that catch fish, lunch and snacks.
We need a “catering team” for each outing. They will design the menu for a hot lunch and purchase the necessary food items. Our Chapter will reimburse the cost. On the day of the outing, the team will transport tables, shade canopies, grills, etc. from the Chapter storage shed in Poncha Springs, serve lunch, clean up, and return gear to the storage shed. For past outings, a team of two couples with at least one pickup truck worked well. Two of the team members also could mentor while the other two tend the lunch spot.
For each outing, we need 10 fishing mentors who have completed the PHW training session. To give all our mentors an opportunity, current mentors can sign up now for one of the two outings. First come, first served.
We could use a few more fishing mentors. Mentors function as a guide to help their participant with all aspects of fishing while facilitating a fun day on the water. Mentoring has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience for past mentors. Qualifications include ability to catch fish on your own, patience to teach a few skills to a beginner, and completion of one PHW training session on how to be a great mentor. If we have some recruits, COS PHW likely will send someone to Salida or BV to conduct the session, probably in March or April.
Contact Gene Milus to volunteer for any of these openings or to get more information.
Click here or press “play” below to watch the recording of the zoom meeting.