Mentee Registration

Mentee Caregiver or Guardian Guidelines

How do you register a child for The Mayfly Project?

Check our location map to confirm there is a project in your location. Scroll down and fill out this registration form below!

Once we receive the registration, we will reach out to you and let you know the status of the project and if the child is approved for the project. Please read through the notes below prior to registration.

Email us if you have any questions about this process: Kaitlin@themayflyproject.com.

*Note, please only register children that are currently in foster care or have been in foster care, and over the age of 8 years old, unless otherwise directed.

What we do at our outings

• Meet at multiple locations once every 2-4 weeks; outings last 1-4 hours, depending on the outing time set by the lead mentor.
• Mentors teach fly fishing skills, such as casting, knot tying, fly tying, picking flies, reading the water, and catch and release fishing. We also teach on topics that we call, the characteristics of an angler, that include having patience, building self-confidence, finding grit, taking care of the environment, and seeking wisdom. The children also earn buttons for participation as they participate in our conservation initiative.
• We provide a 1:1 mentor ratio, but we do everything in a group and have a 3 in a group safety policy. Providing a physically and mentally safe environment for the children we mentor is our number one priority! The second is fun!
• At the final outing, every child that has participated with our projects will receive fly fishing gear to keep and a specialized curriculum to continue to learn about fly fishing!

Who are the Mentors?

Our mentors are volunteers from your community that believe in the healing power and the fun of fly fishing and care greatly about leading others to this sport. Mentors go through an application process, reference check, background check, interview, and training specific to TMP. We have trauma informed care videos for our mentors and a handbook that teaches on these topics:

• About Children in Foster Care
• Trauma Informed Care and Inclusivity
• Communication and Behavior Response Guidelines
• Handling Escalation and Disruptive Behaviors
• Conflict Resolution and Mandated Reporting
• Tips for Being a Great Mentor
• Tips for Being a Great Fly Fishing Guide
• The Mayfly Project Program Rules

Caregiver/Guardian’s Role:

In order for the child to fully experience the benefits of fly fishing, it’s essential they meet with the mentors on a consistent basis, so we ask that you work with us to ensure the child can attend all of the outings. If there are any barriers to this consistency, please let us know how we can help! We only allow a certain number of participants, so please do not register if you cannot commit to the project.

We understand that youth in this position have been through a tremendous amount of change and abandonment by adults, so we are committed to never cancelling an outing unless there are safety issues, such as extreme weather.

Please register the child in your care using this confidential form, and include anything that we may need to know to ensure your child has a great time with us! Thank you for your time!!

Mentee Registration Form (If you do not hear back after a few days after submitting this, please email Kaitlin@themayflyproject.com):