Shenandoah Reel Women: Fly Fishing Camps
May 16, 2022
Our conversation today with Joan Chapman from Shenandoah Reel Women was all about fly fishing. She explained how/why the group was formed and the comradery she's found by being a part of it.
Shenandoah Reel Women was founded in 2018 by three women who wanted to get out on the river fishing with other women. SRW has now grown to a group of 20+ women of all ages, from all corners of the county. These women gather to learn from, teach, and mentor each other. The goal of SRW is to get more women and girls into the river to try their hand at fly fishing and, also, to engage in other outdoor pursuits like hiking, birding, tree and wildflower spotting, and nature photography.
In the past day camps had been offered to encourage a younger generation of women (ages 12-18) to experience fly fishing. This year an overnight camp has been added. Both flyfishing camps are made possible by the 2021/22 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia and awarded to Friends of North Fork Shenandoah River.
In these camps, young women will be mentored by established SRW members and volunteers. They will be introduced to the art of fly fishing, learn the basics of knot tying, the use of appropriate equipment, good casting techniques, river entomology and watershed conservation education.
The day camp will be held at Seven Bends State Park in Woodstock, VA on June 13-14, and 16, 2022 (Mon/Tue/Thur) 9am-3pm each day. The registration fee for this camp is $45 with enrollment limited to 15. Scholarships are available. Rods, reels and necessary equipment will be available for participants’ use during the day camp and for additional summer fishing activities.
The overnight camp will be a 5-day, 4-overnight camp at Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA. Girls will arrive at camp at lunchtime on Sunday, June 26, 2022 and depart late afternoon on Thursday, June 30, 2022. The registration fee for this camp is $125 with enrollment limited to 12. Meals and snacks are included. Scholarships are available. Rods, reels and tool lanyards that are used by the participants during the overnight camp will become their property at the conclusion, as part of the grant award. All current COVID guidelines will be followed.
Registration for either of these camps can be made at: https://fnfsr.org/srw2022/. The deadline to register for the day camp is Monday, June 6, 2022. The deadline to register for the overnight camp is Monday, June 20, 2022.
Space is limited for both camps so early registration is advised. Joan also explained that there are scholarships available for both camps and encouraged interested parents, coaches, school personnel to reach out to her personally.
For more information about Shenandoah Reel Women, the camps and/or scholarships, please contact: Joan Chapman via phone: 703-507-2276 or email: joan.chapman@fnfsr.org. Follow them on Instagram for updates as well.