State College, Pennsylvania Project
“This was the best day of my life!”
Mentee, The Mayfly Project
Project Location
State College, PA
Year Project Founded
2027
Project Lead Mentor
Garrett Burns
Co-Lead Mentor
Nicole Pray
Mentors on this team
Looking for mentors!
Children mentored to date
TBD
Children to be mentored in 2027
6
Local foster care partners
Youth Service Bureau (YSB)
The YSB is a nonprofit, community-based organization in Pennsylvania dedicated to helping children, youth, and families reach their full potential through prevention programs, family support, and residential services
Services:
parenting and family support
shelter and independent living
youth centers and outreach
Local companies that support this project
Looking for community support!
Apply to Mentor
Support the State College Project!
At the end of our program, I received a thank you note from my mentee. He enjoyed the time we spent together on the water and mentioned that ‘he didn’t know fishing could be so fun’! It was his first-time fishing and admitted that he considered fishing ‘boring’ and that he didn’t want to do it. His perspective changed after our time together on the water. We talked conservation and he jumped right in to help keep the lake clean. His favorite part, of course, was his ‘First catch’! The note included pictures of us and it filled me with happiness and a few of those ‘happy tears’!
Mentor from The Mayfly Project
Project Mentors
Garrett Burns, LEAD MENTOR
| Hi my name is Garrett Burns. I grew up in central Pennsylvania and have lived here my whole life. I have two brothers and I am the youngest of the bunch. My dad started taking me fishing in a toddler backpack, so I guess you can say I was born to love fly fishing. Fast forward to when I was 10 years old, I started dry fly fishing and tying some fly’s all taught by my father. I now spend about half the year on the water learning and figuring out the game of fly fishing. |
Nicole Pray, CO-LEAD Mentor
| Raised in inner-city Portland, Oregon, my love for the outdoors began with my father, who introduced me to the freedom, adventure, and connection found both in nature and within yourself. Nearly 10 years ago, I moved to Central PA to be closer to family and raise my child in a community where we could build lasting roots. Fishing has remained a lifelong passion, and discovering fly fishing deepened my appreciation for the connection I turn to when I need it most. Our hope is to introduce kids to fly fishing while creating a space where they feel seen, supported, and capable. To me, fly fishing is about connection, patience, resilience, and meaningful moments that can make a lasting difference in a child’s life. |