West Virginia is home to some of the most wild and beautiful places. These are the kinds of places that can heal the soul, and that is why our mountain state project will be a wonderful resource for our youth who reside within it. Fly fishing has been an outlet for me, and I am excited to share that with others. It is a culture that comes with a supportive community and is something that brings you closest to some of nature’s most vibrant creatures. In a complicated world, life is simple when you are out on the water. With a skill these youth can carry with them through life, fly fishing is a way to encourage them to care for nature, because nature in turn, cares for them too.
Morgantown, West Virginia Project
Lead Mentor: Becca Myers
Project location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Year project founded: 2022
Mentors on this team: 13
Children mentored to date: 25
Children mentored in 2024: 10-12
Local foster care partners: KVC West Virginia
Local companies and partners that support this project: Trout Unlimited, Experience Learning, Inc., and our local community!
Contact Lead Mentor: Becca Myers, rmyers@experience-learning.org
Apply to mentor HERE!
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Morgantown, West Virginia Project
I can’t wait to give these kids the chance to create meaningful experiences and develop relationships with the outdoors that remain constant and dependable through life’s seasons!
Project Mentors
BECCA MYERS, LEAD MENTOR
Reedsville, West Virginia
Becca is a native of West Virginia and was introduced to fishing as a young child. What started out as flipping rocks along the stream in pursuit of finding encased caddis flies lead to a lifestyle revolving around the outdoors. Her favorite fishing days involve hiking to backcountry streams to lay out a dry fly for native brookies. If the fish aren’t biting, she is just as content wandering through the scenery and snapping photos along the way. In her professional work, she collaborates with local schools implementing outdoor education programs within the classroom. Giving youth the opportunity to form meaningful experiences with the outdoors and getting them excited about their environment and local watersheds is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. Becca is excited to expand The Mayfly Project to the mountain state and looks forward to seeing the positive impact this project can have on our rivers and on our kids!
JEFFREY KRESCH, MENTOR
Elkins, West Virginia
Originally from Pennsylvania, Jeffrey moved to West Virginia in 2005 to make a better life with his family in the Appalachian Mountains. Two things reignited his passion for fishing upon arriving in the state; the many wonderful fishing opportunities already in place for multiple fish species, and the many potential opportunities for reviving impaired streams. Recognizing the therapeutic qualities of the water through river and lake cleanups, educating himself on aquatic ecosystems, and teaching his three sons the art of fly fishing, Jeffrey is excited to help others share in this passion through his role as a mentor in the West Virginia Mayfly Project.
MATT DILLA, MENTOR
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Matt cut his teeth spin fishing for smallmouth bass. he began to learn fly fishing at 14 years old from the Family Tyes non-profit group. Matt learned not only about fly fishing but giving back to the fishing community in general. Matt has fly fished all over the country, but most prefers his home waters in northern Pennsylvania. After teaching fly fishing for 15 years, he is looking forward to continuing working with children to pass on what he has learned about fishing.
SAM URBAN, MENTOR
Cabins, West Virginia
As a West Virginia native, Sam grew up running through the mountains searching for trout almost every weekend. This outdoor passion thrusted him towards a career in conservation, where he is currently working with Trout Unlimited and lives in Cabins, WV. He believes in helping educate and impassion young anglers in fly fishing, since that was such an impactful part of his own up-bringing. It can lead to new and better stewards of the sport in the future. He is looking forward to being a mentor in the new Morgantown, WV Mayfly Project!
Adam Korman, MENTOR
New Castle, Pennsylvania
As a Pennsylvania born and raised native, the outdoors are in my blood. Introduced to fly fishing by the lack in ability to handle a bait-casting reel, my journey in the sport began about 16 years ago. I have always been passionate about breathing the fresh and nurturing air of the mountains, camping, hiking, and photographing. Having been in skateboarding ministry for nearly 20 years my care and compassion for young people is innate. Introducing anyone to fly fishing and instructing those to further their tactics have found a combination in my life in the form of guiding on the streams of PA. Pursing truth, beauty and goodness is unavoidable while being on the stream. So, why not introduce others through the Mayfly Project!
Zach Pittman, MENTOR
Reader, West Virginia
Born and raised in WV. Have been fly fishing for over 25 years now and love chasing anything on a fly from native brookies to western cutthroat trout. I have run WVAngler.com a WV fly fishing site for over 20 years now I always enjoy helping others get started in fly fishing. Spend most of my free time traveling the country camping and in search of fish on the fly rod or spending time in the outdoors with my three girls and wife. Having spent the last several years teaching Bible class to teenagers I believe in giving back and being a light to others as much as you can. Look forward to giving back and helping as much as possible!
JUSTIN DAVIS, MENTOR
Morgantown, West Virginia
My name is Justin Davis. I was born and raised in West Virginia and still live here with my wife Kendra and our four children Kaylee, Jase, Jensen and Kaya. The outdoors are a foundation of our family; from rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, foraging and everything in between. We let our kids explore the world around them and teach them to respect every part of it. I have fished since before I can remember and picked up my first flyrod at 8 years old. I have spent countless hours fishing the streams of West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, picking up opportunities in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, the Carolinas and many more. Fishing has given me a lot and I am so pumped to give some of it back.
News & Events
Making the Long Drives for Kids, Got Fishing!
“But you live in McCall, 4 hours from our local project?” I remember asking Brian Oakland, of Got Fishing, when he first reached out to us and told us he was going to not only raise funds for our Idaho Projects, but he wanted to join our project in Coeur’d Alene. He...
Butler, PA, Fly Fishing Extravaganza Fundraiser!
2023 Fly Fishing Extravaganza in Butler, PA!! Join us for our 3rd annual day of instructional fly fishing on private property!! This will be a day of fly fishing, food, raffles, contests and FUN!! Details of the event are as follows: Date: August 19, 2023 Time: 9:00...
TMP’s Curriculum, Spanish Edition!
From our Seattle Project Lead Mentor, Eileen Petralia: "During one of our project years, in the late planning stages, I learned that all of our mentees that registered would all be native Spanish speakers. As myself and some of the mentors had friends in the...
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Morgantown, West Virginia Project
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