NVATU EDUCATION

Touching the lives of over 1000 local students each year

NVATU Education focuses on education leveraging environmental science, the programs of our collaboration partners, and TU National programs to inform and teach our members and the youth of our community to be conservation active, responsible custodians of our stream habitat and fisheries to preserve them for future generations to enjoy

NVATU Education presently incorporates five education activities; Stream Guide, Trout in the Classroom (TIC), Stream Girls/Stream Keepers, Flytying instruction, and the NVATU/BSA Fly Fishing Merit Badge program.

Stream Guide

The extremely popular NVATU Stream Guide (Washington D.C. Area Trout Fishing), now in its third edition, provides an introduction to more than 30 streams located within a day trip of Northern Virginia. The guide provides updated information on directions, regulations, and stream access as well as expanded stream descriptions to provide anglers with a deeper understanding of what they will experience when they visit these streams. If you are new to fly fishing or recently arrived, this guide is a “must have” reference for streams in our area. The guide features GPS coordinates that direct the reader to parking lots and access points.  Helpful fishing tips from our chapter members and local guides give the reader an edge for a successful day on the stream. Guides may be purchased at local fly shops or under the “about” tab of this website.

TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM

Trout in the Classroom is a conservation-oriented environmental education program for elementary, middle, and high school students. Through the school year, students raise trout from eggs to fry and then release them into approved cold water streams. This act of raising, monitoring, and caring for young trout fosters a conservation ethic within participating students and promotes an understanding of their shared water resources.

The Trout in the Classroom (TIC) https://www.virginiatu.org/education program continues to be a flagship education program for NVATU and has operated for 14 years. The program has recovered substantially from 8 tanks in Spring 2021 (post covid) to 36 tanks by October 2023, with 23 participating schools. We need a pool of at least 20 volunteers to draw from to deliver eggs in the fall and release fish in the spring. If you are interested in volunteering for this activity or if you are aware of a school that would like to initiate a TIC program, please contact George Paine at gpaine@novatu.org

STREAM GIRLS/KEEPERS

Stream Girls is a Trout Unlimited patch program held in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of America to teach cadet level girl scouts about conservation, stream ecology, fly fishing, and fly tying.  Stream Girls is part of the Trout Unlimited Headwaters Youth Program. Detailed information on the Stream Girls program can be found at www.tu.org/streamgirls. The participating scouts receive workbooks and are charged with assessing the health of a local stream. They take and record chemical and temperature measurements, identify macroinvertebrates, calculate water flow, learn about standard protocols and then review the data they have gathered to agree on the stream condition. Scouts also, have the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the stream environment as they participate in the stream walk. Although the program is actively supported by chapters in other regions of the country, NVATU is the only chapter to offer this program in Virginia.

Stream Keepers is gender neutral version of the identical program, not associated with GSA, originally designed to serve boy scout troops but available to any youth organization.

For more information on Stream girls/StreamKeepers events, if you would like to volunteer for a future event or if you know a cadet level Girl Scout troop or other youth group who might be interested, please contact bparker@novatu.org. Also, check out the event reports below.

Fly Tying Instruction

John Hadley teaches an informal fly tying class in conjunction with each of our in-person member meetings. The NVATU chapter provides materials, vises and tools for this class, although attendants are encouraged to bring their own vises and tools so they become familiar with them. A “fly of the month” will be chosen for the class. The fly pattern will be one that will work on our local waters. Although flytyers of all skill levels and ages are welcome, attendees who know the basics are more likely to complete the fly pattern.  However, even if you have never tried flytying and just want an introduction, there will be many flytyers around to help with the basics. Refer to the homepage for in-person meeting schedules, no reservations required, just come and learn.

Stream Girls Spring 2023

On May 29, 2023 through a generous grant from Trout Unlimited, Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited (NVATU) held its second ever Trout Unlimited Stream Girls event. Stream Girls is a Trout Unlimited program held in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of America to teach girl scouts about conservation, stream ecology, fly fishing, and fly tying. Detailed information on the Stream Girls program can be found at www.tu.org/streamgirls. Although the program is actively supported by chapters in other regions of the country, the NVATU event is only the second time this event has been held in Virginia. Scouts from the two participating scout troops (50039 and 2973) from the Vienna area successfully completed the program and received their Stream Girls patch. The event was held at the Locust Shade Park near Quantico, Virginia. The wooded park has a lake which is stocked by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources under the Urban Program Waters program, a clubhouse suitable for fly tying, several trails to accommodate the stream walk, a stream about a half mile from the lake that supports a reasonable variety of macroinvertebrates, and several shelters to use as a home base.

The program was a one-day event with twenty-five adults including parents, park officials, NVATU volunteers, and scout leaders plus thirteen scouts in their early teens. To ease the schedule somewhat, it was decided to hold the fly-tying session at a scout meeting one month prior to the Stream Girls event. Fly tying gave the scouts an opportuntiy to try their hand at mastering the Green Weenie, a worm fly, and an egg pattern. The scouts not only successfully tied one or more fo these flies but were then able to use them during the fishing session. This idea of pre-staging the fly-tying would have worked except for the fact that only seven scouts could attend the fly-tying session. Therefore, fly-tying still had to be worked into the schedule for the Stream Girls event. The scouts were therefore divided into two groups by whether they had completed fly-tying and were rotated through five stations comprised of fly tying, macroinvertebrate sampling, stream walk, fly casting, and fishing.

The scouts spent approximately one hour at each of the stations.

The stream walk was an opportunity to explore the ecology of the stream environment. Scouts explored indicators of the health of the stream, looked at possible sources of pollution, and talked about how nature impacts the stream conditions. The scouts explored the sights and sounds of animals, fish, and plants as they walked along the stream.

Locust Shade Park

Fly-tying

Go With The Flow provided the opportunity for scouts to volunteer for tasks and get their feet wet. Data, including water temperature and simple chemical tests, was recorded by a designated scribe and scouts learned about the improtance of adequate flow rate. The chemical results showed normal pH, low amounts of chloride and nitrate/nitrite.

Macroinvebrate sampling gave the scouts an opportunity to learn first hand what lives in the local streams. They helped collect macroinvebrates, sort them into types and then they had to apply a scientific method to identify them. The collection procedure was based on the Izaak Walton League Virginia Save our Streams (VASOS) protocol but with relaxed times and

Locust Sade Park stream

procedures.

The macroinvetebrates included, beetles, helgremites, a cranefly, two types of caddis flies, dragon fly nymphs, and a damselfly. In addition to the macroinvetebrates, the scouts found a number of salamanders and crayfish and a few small fish. The scouts learned about polution tolerant and intolerant types of macroinvetebrates and how the types and numbers of bugs found in a stream reflects the overall health of that stream. Scouts then learned about how the types of bugs found in the stream relates to

Gathering Macros the types of flies that fishermen use to catch fish.

Prior to the fishing session, the scouts learned to fly cast. The two groups of scouts rotated through the casting lession learning the basic overhand and roll casting techniques. This year, the scouts learned to cast from the shore into the pond rather than on a grassy field. The grassy field, which was used for the inaugural event, also allowed for a casting game using “fish” with velcro dots arranged inside a hoop as targets for velcro tipped leaders. Learning casting from shore, however, provided a more natural experience for the scouts even though it was less interesting.

Separating Macros by Type

Finally, it was time to fish. Scouts tried their hand at spin fishing as well as fly casting in the pond. NVATU volunteers helped each scout apply what they had learned to the art of fly fishing.

The day ended with a wrap-up where the physical observation, chemical tests, and macro studies results were considered as an oversall healthassessment was determined for the stream. Based on these factors, thestream was determined to be mildly impared which is typical of many streams in Northern Virginia.

The event took significant effort to coordinate and execute but everyone involved seemed to have a great time and NVATU will refine the program and plan similar future events in coordination with the Girl Scouts of America. For information on this Stream girls event, if you would like to volunteer for a future event, or if you know a cadet level Girl Scout troop who might be interested, please contact bparker@novatu.org.

Stream Girls Fall 2023

On October 22, 2023Through a generous grant from Trout Unlimited, Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited (NVATU) held its third ever Trout Unlimited Stream Girls event. Stream Girls is a Trout Unlimited program held in conjunction with
the Girl Scouts of America to teach girl scouts about conservation, stream ecology, fly fishing, and fly tying. Detailed information on the
Stream Girls program can be found at www.tu.org/streamgirls. Although the program is actively supported by chapters in
other regions of the country, the NVATU event is only the third time this event has been held in Virginia. Thirteen scouts from nine troops (51036, 3015, 1769, 51045, 52037, 56038, 90062, 6515, and 11029) from the Southern
Maryland and Northern Virginia areas successfully completed the program and received their Stream Girls patch. The event was held at the Locust Shade Park near Quantico, Virginia. The wooded park has a lake which is stocked during the winter by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources under the Urban Program Waters program, a clubhouse suitable for fly tying, several trails to accommodate the stream walk, a stream about a half mile from the lake that supports a reasonable variety of macroinvertebrates, and several shelters to use as a home base.

The program was a one-day event with twenty adults including parents, park officials, NVATU volunteers, and scout leaders plus the thirteen scouts. The day began with an introduction where the girls received their workbooks, and were told that they were there not only to learn and practice some of the elements of fly fishing

Locust Shade Park

Fly-tying including fly tying and casting but they were also charged with assessing the water quality of the park stream. By analyzing the stream environment, studying the macroinvertebrates, calculating water flow, measuring temperature, and conducting several chemical tests, they would gather sufficient data to determine the health of the stream.

The scouts were divided into two groups and they rotated through five stations comprised of fly tying, macroinvertebrate sampling, stream walk, fly casting, and fishing, spending approximately one hour at each of the stations.

Fly tying was the chance for the scouts to try their hand at mastering the Wooley Bugger, one of the all-time classic fly patterns. They all tied the same pattern but individually chose the color for their flies. The intent was for the scouts to use the flies they tied to try their hand at fly fishing in the lake but gusty winds forced the cancellation of flyfishing.

The stream walk explored the ecology of the stream environment. Scouts discovered indicators of the health of the stream, looked at possible sources of pollution, and talked about how nature and humans impact the stream conditions. The scouts explored the sights and sounds of animals, fish, and plants as they walked along the stream.

Go With The Flow provided the opportunity for scouts to volunteer for tasks and get their feet wet.
Scouts collected data including water temperature and flow speed. Flow speed and cross sectional
data was then used to calculate the flow rate. Scouts measurements and calculations were entered in their workbooks and and scouts learned about how temperature and flow rate affect.

Go With The Flow Measurements the amount of oxygen in the water and the resulting impact on macroinvertebrates and fish. The
chemical test results showed normal pH, low amounts of chloride and nitrate/nitrite.

During

Gathering Macros macroinvertibrate sampling, scouts learned first hand what lives in
the local streams. They helped collect macros, sort them into types and then they had to apply a procedural scientific method to identify them. The collection

Separating Macros by Type

procedure was based on the Izaak Walton League Virginia Save our Streams (VASOS) protocol but with relaxed times and procedures. Although the stream is very small in the fall, a nice variety of macros were collected including, helgremites, craneflies, two types of caddis flies, water pennies, mayflies, dragon fly nymphs, and damselflies. In addition to the macroinvetebrates, the scouts found a number of salamanders and a few small fish. The scouts learned about polution tolerant and intolerant types of macroinvetebrates and how the types and numbers of bugs found in a stream reflects the overall health of that stream. Scouts then learned about how the types of bugs found in the stream relate to the types of flies that fishermen use to catch fish.

Next it was time for the scouts to learn to fly cast. The two groups of scouts rotated through the casting lession learning the basic overhand and roll casting techniques. This year, the scouts learned to cast on a grassy knoll rather than lakeside because it was protected from the wind.

Spin Fishing

Casting Practice

Finally, it was time to fish and scouts tried their hand at spin fishing because the unfavorable wind conditions prevented flyfishing. The two groups rotated between spin fishing and a bead bracelot activity which occupied the flyfishing timeslot.

The day ended with a wrap-up where the physical observation, chemical tests, and macro studies results were considered as an overall health assessment was determined for the stream. Based on these factors, the stream was determined to be

mildly impared which is typical of many streams in Northern Virginia.

The event took significant effort to coordinate and execute but everyone involved seemed to have a great time and NVATU will refine the program and plan similar future events in coordination with the Girl Scouts of America. For information on this Stream Girls event, if you would like to volunteer for a future event, or if you know a cadet level Girl Scout troop who might be interested, please contact bparker@novatu.org.

NVATU Education – NVATU/BSA Fly Fishing Merit Badge Event

NVATU, in conjunction with the National Capital Area Council of Boy Scouts hosted a one day “immersion” in the techniques and artistry of fly fishing, complying with the BSA requirements for the Fly Fishing Merit Badge.

On October 29, on an unusually warm October day, NVATU hosted 16 boy scouts from troops 869 in McLean, 349 in Falls Church, and 301 in Alexandria. The event was held at Locust Shade Park in Triangle, Virginia. The park provides a meeting room faculty, a lake that is stocked with trout in the winter months, an outdoor pavilion, and a stream which, although small, offers a reasonably diverse population of macroinvertebrates.

This was the first instance of NVATU’s recently reinitiated merit badge program. Eleven NVATU volunteers lead activities including fly tying, knot tying, fly casting, flyfishing, and macroinvertebrate sampling. Scouts completing the event received sign-off for their Fly Fishing Merit Badge and a complimentary membership in the TU Headwaters Youth Program.

An introduction to fly fishing emphasized the importance of catch and release, and reminded the scouts that the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to the sport of fly fishing. Fishing regulations were discussed and an introduction to physical components of fly fishing was provided. Scouts learned about the life cycle of aquatic insects, called macroinvertebrates, which form the principal diet of fresh water fish. The 16 scouts were then divided into two groups. The groups rotated through five event stations to complete the required activities.

The fly-tying requirement for the merit badge involved learning about the various artificial flies used for fly fishing and what these artificial flies imitate in nature. The scouts were then required to

tie two different fly patterns which for this event included a Bead Head Mini-bugger and Griffith Gnat. The scouts would later have the opportunity to fish with the flies they tied.

To learn firsthand about the naturals that fly fishermen imitate with their artificial flies, the groups moved the stream. They participated in capturing a sample of macros, sorting the sample into groups, and then using a procedural method to identify the individual types. In spite of very low water conditions, a rich assortment of macros was discovered including caddis, hellgrammite, diving beetle, water penny, mayfly, dragonfly, cranefly, aquatic worm, and damsel fly in addition to a few salamanders and assorted fish. This experience enabled the scouts to discover and identify the creatures first hand that fish eat and to connect the naturals with the artificials they created in fly tying. They also learned that certain macros are more sensitive to pollution than others, and therefore, the variations in the populations of macros can provide an indication of how impaired the stream is.

Knot tying is an essential aspect of flyfishing. Poorly constructed knots often result in losing large fish and can contribute to losing flies in snags. Choosing the wrong knot or improperly tying a knot can spook a fish or restrict the natural motion of the fly in the water. The scouts learned to tie the arbor knot, nail knot, surgeon’s knot, and improved clinch knot. These knots are all used between the fly line and the fly to ensure a proper presentation of the fly and to optimize the strength of the resulting rig.

Once the basics were learned it was time to learn to cast a fly. Thanks to an equipment grant from Trout Unlimited, scouts had the opportunity to cast with a new Temple Fork Outfitters rod. Scouts assembled on a grassy knoll and were taught the basics of fly casting. They practiced with fly rods that had yarn attached to the tip of the line. They learned that in fly casting it is the line that is being cast not the bit of yarn of fly at the end of the line. They learned the conventional overhand cast as well as the roll cast. Scouts were required to cast thirty feet accurately.

With the basics under their belts, it was time to fish!

Scouts lined up along the edge of the lake and demonstrated their newly learned flyfishing prowess with the fly they tied during the flytying activity. In spite of the hot sunny weather, two of the scouts caught fish and reports indicate that everyone had a great time. The day closed with signing the “blue cards” and the group pictures.

For further information on the BSA Merit Badge Program please contact Ernie Snowden esnowden@novatu.org. For information on
other NVATU education activities, check out our web page at www.novatu.org, or contact Bob Parker at <bparker@novatu.org>.
Volunteers are an essential component of a successful education program, isn’t it time to give back? Volunteer skills ranging from fly tying, knot tying, and fly casting, and macroinvertebrate sampling, to coordination, and herding cats are all welcome. Also, if you are interested in bugs, come join us to learn more about what lives in our streams. Also, contact us if you know of, or are involved with, a youth group and would like to participate in one of these programs.

“the {NVATU/BSA Merit Badge} event was characterized by our scouts and adult leaders as being incredibly well organized and run”.
-- Jeff W., Scoutmaster

BSA Fly fishing Merit Badge Event on October 19 and 26, 2024

The Northern Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited successfully concluded two Boy Scout Fly Fishing merit badge events on successive weekends in October, making it possible for 20 Scouts to get approved for the merit badge. These events were conducted under a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Scouting America's National Capital Area Council that was just last year re-written and updated after a long hiatus, to reach a broader population of Scout troops throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC.

The MoA governs NVATU's responsibilities and provides Scout Council-sanctioned "rules of the road" for engaging and mentoring both boys and girls in the artistry and techniques of fly fishing while satisfying Scouting's requirements for the merit badge.  Since the new MoA was put in place last year, a total of fifty-one scouts -- boys and girls -- have earned their Fly Fishing merit badge through attending NVATU's events.

On 19 and 26 October, in the two day-long events at Locust Shade Park in Prince William County, the scouts were reminded that Lord Baden-Powell, who started the world-wide Scouting movement, was an avid fly fisherman and conservationist, who wrote about the care of trout rivers and the natural habitat in his Scouting for Boys, the predecessor of today's Scout Handbook. The Scout's learned important state law governing trout fishing and how to distinguish different varieties of trout, from Brook to Rainbow, and why we practice "Catch and Release." The Scout's then learned the basic equipment for fly fishing, how to match rod, reel, and line correctly, the types and sizes of fly rods, and the selection and rigging of fly line, leader and tippet. A volunteer Scout donned waders, boots and vest to demonstrate for all the Scouts the correct wearing of the equipment. Casting practice followed where each Scout was instructed in the proper movements for casting and laying a fly line.

Before moving on to work on a nearby stream, the Scouts were given an overview of macro-invertebrates, the stream-borne insects that comprise the trout's diet. At the stream, the Scout's participated in pulling samples from the stream to investigate the wide variety of water-borne insects that can be encountered in any of Virginia's back-waters, tributaries and rivers. The insects were identified and catalogued according to the size, shape, and prevalence.

The Scout's moved next to fly tying, working with vises and tools typically used by seasoned fly-tyers. Each Scout tied a Foam Ant, Foam Wing Caddis, and Bead Head Nymph to produce patterns representing the stages of invertebrate development that fly fisherman might need to be cognizant of to "match the hatch." From fly tying, the Scouts proceeded to instruction in the types of knots that fly fishermen might use at different points in their fly rig. Here the knots included an Arbor Knot, Surgeon's Knot and Improved Clinch Knot.

With the flies each Scout tied on their own, they next moved to the pond to fish. After suitable experience casting with their new flies, each Scout met with one of NVATU's registered Fly Fishing Merit Badge Counselors to review lessons learned during the day's instruction and to answer questions about Fishing Safety that covered treating insect bites, preventing dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion, as well as good sportsmanship, and responsible outdoor ethics that "leave no trace" of their presence once they depart the river environment.