Detroit, Michigan Project

I think the healing powers of fly fishing
and the one-on-one attention from a mentor
will build self-confidence and be fun for the kids.

Mentor

Project Location

Detroit, MI

Year Project Founded

2022

Project Lead Mentor

Tyler Keeton

Mentors on this team

10

Children mentored to date

10

Children to be mentored in 2026

6

Local foster care partners

Currently searching for partners.

Local companies that support this project

Currently seeking support from local companies!

Apply to Mentor

For more questions about this project,
contact Tyler Keeton at:
keetontyler@gmail.com

Mentor Application

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“Fly fishing can be cathartic for the soul. Detroit is a wonderful landscape and needs much more love than it gets. I couldn’t be more ecstatic to bring this kind of opportunity to such an incredible and culturally rich city to some wonderfully deserving people.”

Tyler Keeton, Mentor

Detroit, Michigan Project

Project Mentors

Tyler Keeton, Lead Mentor

A military brat who’s lived across the eastern US, Tyler has lived in Michigan and the Detroit area for the last 17 years. Tyler grew up fishing in the south with conventional gear and then on his way to become an Eagle Scout, discovered fly fishing at a summer camp in Michigan when he was 16 years old. He has been a member of Trout Unlimited for about six years and a board member for about two years, working as the co-chair for the education committee; working on bringing fly fishing to the youth of Detroit and surrounding areas. Tyler is excited to continue sharing his love of fly fishing with even more groups and work as the lead mentor for the Detroit Mayfly Project!

Samantha Scott, Co-Lead Mentor

The summer of 2020 brought the joy of fly fishing into Samantha’s life when she returned to her hometown of Aspen, Colorado for work after graduating college with a degree in Performing Arts Operations. It was love at first bite and ever since then, Samantha’s been on the hunt for new and inventive ways to catch (and release!) any species of fish on a fly rod. As a former expat and relative newcomer to Michigan and the Detroit area, Samantha is excited to continually share and expand her passion for learning and the outdoors with her community.

Andy Pokorski, Mentor

Andy has lived many places being an Army kid but now proudly calls Michigan home. Michigan is lucky to have many opportunities for anglers and Andy does his best to take advantage targeting everything from trout, bass, walleye, musky, and pike. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience fly fishing with others since he struggled getting started. He is an active and proud member of Clinton Valley Trout Unlimited and has helped put on a youth fly fishing school in Detroit through the chapter. He also serves as a co-director of the Michigan Trout Unlimited Youth Camp and is looking forward to helping with The Mayfly Project in Detroit.

Cooper Stinson, Mentor

Originally from the foothills of the Appalachians, Cooper grew up fishing for trout in Georgia and Western North Carolina where he frequented the Nantahala, Tuckaseegee and Chattahoochee rivers. Although it was difficult to leave the mountains, he was offered a scholarship to Duke University and played baseball there until June 2022. Now, Cooper is pursuing a career in medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As an Eagle Scout and as a caretaker for his older brother with Down Syndrome, Cooper developed a passion for service to others which he hopes to combine with his passion for fly fishing as a mentor for the Detroit Michigan Project!

Rich Siyufi, Mentor

Hailing originally from Pennsylvania, Rich didn’t start fly fishing until he was 35. His buddy Duke brought him to Spring Creek in State College PA, and that was all it took to get Rich hooked on trout. 22 years later and now in Michigan, Rich is taking advantage of one of the best fisheries in the world: chinook, coho and steelhead are plentiful, and a huge challenge. Rich’s background in Training and Development, coupled with his passion for helping people, makes a perfect fit the Mayflower project.

Jay Labban, Mentor

Jay’s fly-fishing journey started with joining the Clinton Valley Trout Unlimited chapter in 2007. He attended the WA WA Sum outing with CVTU and caught his first 13” brown trout on the AuSable river that year.

Jay enjoys fly fishing the AuSable, the PM, the Manistee, the Paint Creek and the Clinton rivers in Michigan, and the Rocky River in Ohio, and the Madison River in Montana.
He is/or was involved with many fishing and conservation clubs including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Metro West Steelheaders, and the Michigan Fly Fishing Club.
Jay is a volunteer with the Oakland County Mentors Plus program and The Oakland County Youth Assistance’s Mentors Plus program.

Ken Koster, Mentor

I retired from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2011 with 34 years of service, 7 as a Park Ranger and 27 as a Fisheries Technician. Both kept me frequently outdoors which I enjoyed. I started fly fishing for panfish in Forest Preserve lakes in the Chicago area as a young teenager, moving to Michigan after a few years and found trout fishing to be addictive, though I fish for many species using any kind of gear. I have enjoyed helping youngsters get involved in fishing through my Trout Unlimited chapter and with events my wife’s Kiwanis sponsors.

Rod Emery, Mentor

Fishing is one of my greatest passions, I caught my first fish when I was 2 and have been obsessed ever since, I fish every chance I get, wherever I am. Living in SE Michigan, I spend a lot of time throwing big streamers to warm water species, and I love it.
I have experienced the joy of fishing on moving water and in the process have realized that everyone is carrying something heavy. I want to bring the healing experience of fly fishing to others. I used to think that fly fishing was something complicated and reserved for elite anglers, but have since realized that anyone can experience success with the most basic instruction. So beyond my passion for fishing, I want to bring the joy and the healing of fly fishing to others.