FUND TU TEENS OF GALLIPOLIS

MY NAME IS SHANNON MAYES, I AM A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER IN GALLIPOLIS, OHIO. I HAVE STARTED A FLY FISHING CLUB CALLED "TU TEENS OF GALLIPOLIS" LAST YEAR WE WERE THE LARGEST TU TEENS PROGRAM IN THE NATION WITH 47 STUDENTS LEARNING TO FLY FISH, TIE FLIES, AND LEARNING ABOUT CONSERVATION. MY PROGRAM IS ENTIRELY FUNDED FROM DONATIONS FROM BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT FEEL THIS PROGRAM IS WORTH WHILE FOR OUR STUDENTS.  ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO TROUT STREAMS IN SOUTHERN OHIO, THESE STUDENTS WORK HARD AT LEARNING THE SKILLS TO BECOME A FLY FISHERMAN/WOMEN.  MANY OF MY STUDENTS DO NOT BELONG TO OTHER TEAMS OR  ACTIVITIES. THIS CLUB GIVES THESE STUDENTS A SOURCE OF BELONGING  AND BEING A PART OF SOMETHING MUCH LARGER. I AM TEACHING THESE STUDENTS A RESPECT FOR THE OUTDOORS AND TEACHING THEM A SKILL THAT THEY MAY UTILIZE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I GREW UP VERY MUCH LIKE MANY OF THESE STUDENTS AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT LEARNING TO FISH AND HUNT HAS HELPED ME IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.  I WANT TO GIVE THESE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO FLY FISH AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT THE GREAT OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER.  MY GOALS ARE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY THESE STUDENTS WITH FLY FISHING RODS AND SUPPLIES,TU T-SHIRTS, HATS, AND MEMBERSHIPS TO TROUT UNLIMITED. TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PRIDE.  I ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO FUND THESE STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL TO SUMMER FLY FISHING CAMPS AND TAKE OUT -OF -STATE TRIPS WITH PARENTS AND CHAPERONES TO FLY FISHING DESTINATIONS AROUND THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!