Blog Authors: Scott and Helen Barrier, TMP Lead Mentors

“This is an Infectious Group”

Not what you want to hear if you’re talking about Covid, but if you’re describing The Roanoke Mayfly Project, mentor Shane Schubert nailed it! In the inaugural year of the project we received outstanding coaching from the national team, as well as 1:1 from a seasoned project lead. We’ve taken advantage of the extensive Mayfly website resources and participated in monthly TMP calls that helped us get ready for our launch, but nothing prepared us for the joy filled experience of our first year. It was more than we could have imagined for both the mentors and mentees. We can’t measure who had more fun, but we’ll try to describe a few.

If you hold Outing #1 in a gym without water, it’s an attention grabber. You can introduce the sport of fly fishing, fly-tying, demonstrate rod parts, knot-tying, and teach casting into motion-activated hoola-hoops for cardboard trout with velcro while catching a few basketball hoops as a bonus.

If you play “What’s your favorite food?” as an icebreaker at Outing #1, you’ll have menus set for #2, #3, #4 and #5.

If you develop a follow-up memo at the end of each outing (both paper and email) with goals covered, details & reminders for next outing and fly-fishing video links for skill review, this will benefit the mentees, but also help keep the mentors act together!

If mentors end every outing with affirmations, buttons and high-fives for their youth, a surprise mentor “Best Tree Catcher” award/trophy may bestow a lot of laughs and be displayed outside your Juvenile District Court judges’ office.

If you support mentor leadership roles with curriculum, website and TMP call resources for safety, conservation, casting, fly-tying, knots, and entomology, you’ve created the most effective and efficient program ever.

If you invite parents and foster parents to join each meeting, you may turn them on to fly-fishing enthusiasts and providing them with all their gear at the final outing is so appreciated.

“It was nothing short of a privilege to be part of this team.” shared mentor Mike Purdue and “I can’t wait until next year!” said mentor Tanya Hylton. Our inaugural year has truly been a joyful experience and has produced an infectious group ready for next year!

From TMP Directors: 3 cheers for Scott and Helen Barrier for bringing TMP to Roanoke and for having such a passion for leading youth to the outdoors! We also want to thank all of our donors that made this first year project a huge success!! Thank you for your kindness–it takes a village!

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