Bend, Oregon Project

You MADE a difference in his life! Teach a man to fish
and he will have peace for the rest of his life.

Foster Parent

Bend, Oregon Project

Project Location

Bend, Oregon

 

Year Project Founded

2018

Project Lead Mentor

 Kate Eng, Ryan Johnson

 

Mentors on this team

18

Children mentored to date

29

 

Children to be mentored in 2025

10

Local foster care partners

Fly and Field Outfitters, and Confluence Fly Shops, Louie M & Betty M Phillips foundation, and Clabough Foundation.

Local companies that support this project

Terry Miller, Candace Bell, Allison Buntin

Apply to Mentor

For more questions about this project,
contact:
info@themayflyproject.com

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It meant a lot to me that this year one of the dads of the foster children we worked with were able to spend a few weeks together and his dad said he was really happy to have a new activity for him and his son to do together. It was sweet how happy fly fishing made both of them!

Allison Buntin, Former Lead Mentor

Bend, Oregon Project

Project Mentors

KATE ENG, LEAD MENTOR
Kate grew up hiking and camping in the Colorado Rockies which instilled a lifelong love for the outdoors and a belief in the healing power of nature. You can find Kate fly fishing Oregon rivers even in the winter. A longtime advocate for kids in foster care, Kate has seen how kids benefit by being able to connect to the outdoors. She is ecstatic about sharing her passion for fly fishing with kids through The Mayfly Project.
RYAN JOHNSON, CO-LEAD MENTOR
Ryan is an Oregon native who learned to fly fish for trout on small spring creeks in Central Oregon. He works as a project manager in the construction industry during the week and as a fly fishing and hunting guide on the weekends. He has had the opportunity to fly fish around the world but still finds himself preferring the solitude and technicality of fly fishing small water in Central Oregon. His enthusiasm for working with teens stems from years of coaching middle school basketball and football which has been incredibly fun and rewarding for him. With Ryan’s passion for the outdoors paired with his coaching experience, he is excited to be able to share all that fly fishing has to offer to Oregon’s youth while serving as a Mayfly Project Mentor.
RICK HOLDEN, MENTOR
Rick grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and spent several years in Atlanta before heading west over 20 years ago. Rick now lives at Lake Tahoe and spends time in Bend, Oregon. He recently took a “permanent sabbatical” from over 25 years in the technology industry so he could spend his time doing what he really loves; fly fishing, biking, camping, traveling, and volunteering. Joining the Mayfly Project has allowed him to combine several of these passions.
CAROLE LIGHTEL, MENTOR

I have fished for years with dad for trout, steelhead, and salmon all over California, Washington & British Columbia.
I am new to fly fishing since moving to Bend in 2020. I love the sport, continually taking classes through Central Oregon Anglers Wild Women of the Water. I want to share the sport with foster kids through the Mayfly Project. I am currently a CASA in Bend and know how much the out of doors, especially fly fishing, has to offer foster kids. I am a retired Army Nurse who served 20 years in Panama, Korea, and all over the US along with my family. A few years as a School Nurse & Girl Scout Leader since retiring taught me how to work & have fun with all ages of kids Here’s to high fives and gleeful laughs of fishing kids!!

ERIKA ORESKOVICH, MENTOR
An Oregon native, Erika started fly fishing in 2014 when she moved to Bend with her husband, who’s a fly-fishing guide. Since then, she’s become addicted to the sport! The thrill of catching and releasing trout is hard to beat, but the surprising gifts have kept her loving it. Lifelong friends, a deep connection to nature, and because she deals with a lot of anxiety, fly fishing allows her to be in the present. Her work history is in outdoor retail shops as a manager and buyer; now, she’s a full-time freelance copywriter for the outdoor industry. Although she doesn’t have children, she has a strong desire to give back through teaching, asking, listening, and being there for kids. Now, let’s go fishing!
THOMAS SHUMAN, MENTOR
An Ohio native. Thomas grew up fishing with various family members. He has lived in Oregon the past 50 years. He currently served as conservation director for Central Oregon Fly Fishers. Learned to tie flies at 10 years old fishing for bluegills and bass in Northeastern Ohio. Began trout fishing when he arrived in Oregon. Retired now from work in the federal government. Half his career was spent in the USFS on various forests in Oregon. Half his career was spent in the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Central and Eastern Oregon. Raised two children, both married and 2 grandchildren living in Arizona now. Looking forward to mentoring for the Bend Oregon Mayfly Project.
ALLIE VAUGHAN, MENTOR

Allie grew up learning to cast in her suburban backyard (to the amusement of her neighbors) and fishing small creeks in Iowa with her dad. She dropped the first trout she ever caught before her dad could snap a photo and cried for an hour afterward.
Over the years, she and her dad took several fly fishing excursions out West and Allie quickly became hooked on fly fishing. She has since spent time chasing trout in Colorado, California, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.

She has always loved introducing friends to the sports she enjoys, and fly fishing is no exception. With a love for children and a desire to see everyone enjoy the peace that comes from fly fishing, Allie is grateful to share her passion through mentoring.

TATE BANKSTON, MENTOR
Born and raised in Oregon, I grew up spending most of my time by a river, lake or in the mountains. My father helped instill my love for the outdoors, and as soon as I could walk he jumped on the opportunity to teach me how to ski, bike, backpack, and fish. Later on, my grandfather showed me pictures of steelhead he swung up on the Deschutes River and my interest for fly fishing peaked. Fishing and being on the water has become a deep rooted passion of mine, and the friends and memories I’ve made along the way will last a lifetime. Giving others the opportunity to experience similar moments through a sport I love is exciting a true passion. I’m thrilled to be part of the Bend Mayfly project!
ANA MEYER, MENTOR
Ana grew up on an island in northern Washington surrounded by the Salish Sea. Her parents were avid fishers, and her childhood revolved around fishing and crabbing seasons. In her 20s Ana moved to Colorado for grad school, and while launching her geology career, she discovered a passion for fly fishing. Wet wading mountain streams became her new favorite place! Moving to Oregon in 2014, she started fishing the beautiful rivers in the PNW and discovered why waders exist! Ana spends her free time volunteer teaching Central Oregon geology in schools, trail running, managing a household with two busy boys, and of course fly fishing. She is thrilled to be part of the Mayfly Project and is honored to spend time with kids in such a meaningful way.inner”