Sample Schedule.

This is a sample schedule. It is subject to change based on weather and river conditions.

Sunday

Campers arrive at French Woods Sports and Arts Camp and participate in the French Woods welcoming activities! Parents and students get a tour of the camp, meet the in-house nurse, and pick their secondary(minor) activities for the week. There are many minor activity options, for example, music, swimming, mountain biking, soccer, dancing, and circus. For a full list visit French Wood’s site.

Monday

In the morning there will be an introduction to fly fishing including: explanation of fly fishing tackle, how to set it all up, and casting instruction catered to kids skill levels. The casting instruction starts with a PowerPoint Presentation, moves out to the lawn, and finishes on the ponds with a beautiful view of the Delaware River Valley. As with all sessions, the ratio of instructors to students is high. The session ends just before lunch. The campers eat at French Woods then participate in their minors in the afternoon.

Tuesday

After eating breakfast at French Woods, there will be a field trip to a local fishing spot. Campers will learn how to seine bugs and have an identification session with “BUG Master” Ben Rinker. We finish the outing with a casting activity. The kids wade out into the river and cast to wooden fish to work on accuracy, presentation, and learn about fish feeding behavior. This is also a great place to introduce them to conservation. The importance of clean water, air, and environment, and how that ties into our beautiful sport and the surrounding communities. Catch and release fishing is an important part of this talk. They return to French Woods for lunch and their minors.

Wednesday

After eating breakfast at French Woods, campers will have a fly tying session on campus. They will learn about the different types of flies, fly tying techniques, hooks, materials, and proportions for each pattern. We pick patterns that the kids will get to use on their fishing field trips. There is no greater joy then watching a camper catch a fish on a fly that they tied. If time allows they can try them out on the camp ponds before lunch. The campers eat at French Woods then participate in their minors in the afternoon.

Thursday

After eating breakfast at French Woods, campers will head out for an all-day fishing field trip. French Woods provides all transportation for the campers on their own buses. A couple of counselors and a certified lifeguard stay with the kids on the field trip. The kids get to fish the famed water of the Upper Beaverkill River on miles of private, stocked water. There is one professional licensed guide per two campers. Lunch is delicious home-made food and deserts eaten within sight of the river. After lunch, the campers move to a different stretch of river. This day is the highlight of camp for most kids, and there will certainly be some fish stories for the ride back to French Woods. The campers with have dinner there. They won’t have their Minors, but in the evening there are movies, campfires and other activities for the kids.

Friday

After breakfast at French Woods, campers will head out for a half day fishing field trip to Rainbow Lodge to fish a private lake, or The Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Willowemoc Creek. They will head back to French Woods for lunch and afternoon and evening activities!

Saturday

After breakfast at French Woods, campers will go fishing on the Main Stem of the Delaware River at Indian Springs Fishing Camp. The camp is located in Lordville, NY. President Jimmy Carter once fished these same waters for the famous wild Delaware River trout. After a full morning of fishing the kids will enjoy a nice lunch with the river flowing nearby. After lunch, campers will be awarded their FUDR/Canfield Camp diplomas! They will return to French Woods after awards.

Sunday

It is time for the kids to say goodbye to all the friends they made at camp. Parents can pick up their children by lunch time and will hear many great stories on the ride home!