Smoky Mountain Trout Camp renamed in honor of Thurman
John Thurman, right, identifies aquatic bugs for students in Norris.
Thurman, of Norris, died in October after a long battle with cancer. He was a charter member of the Clinch River Chapter, and had especially enjoyed teaching children about trout, aquatic bugs and fishing.
In 2014, he received Trout Unlimited’s national Youth Education Leadership Award.
The John Thurman Smoky Mountain Trout Adventure Camp, founded in 2011 as the Great Smoky Mountains Trout Adventure Camp, gives middle school girls and boys an appreciation of coldwater resources through the sport of fly fishing.
Participants learn about stream ecology, physics and water chemistry along with aquatic entomology and diversity of fish species in Smokies streams.
Experienced mountain anglers teach the campers fly fishing skills and guide them on fishing expeditions to streams in and near the national park. Other activities include snorkeling to view aquatic creatures in Little River.
About half the cost of the weeklong camp is underwritten by proceeds from the Tennessee Trout Unlimited conservation license plate. Tuition in 2021 will be $540; financial support for campers is available through local Trout Unlimited chapters.
The camp convenes each June at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 camp had to be canceled, but plans are going ahead to hold the camp June 21-26. Applications will be accepted starting Jan. 1; details are available at tntroutadventure.org, or from Steve Young, managing director, at steve_y@earthlink.net.