Our Projects and Initiatives

Our membership currently stands at over 800 members in the Western New York area, the second largest in the state only bested by NYC. The strength of an organization like TU is the ability to bring together diverse groups of people under one banner to do great work. Our presence at outdoor shows is just as important as the restoration projects we do, the youth education and the work with veterans as it allows us to get ourselves in front of the community and increase awareness. These shows are also a great way to raise funds for our projects through donations and fly sales.

If each member volunteered ONCE during the calendar year we'd be in incredible shape. It could be mentoring a youth during a Stream Explorer Outing, teaching a vet how to tie a soft hackle at the VA one evening for an hour, staff our table at the Fair for a few hours one day in the summer or help to plant some trees along the Wiscoy for a couple hours. With our membership base, if folks were to pick an event and help out once a year we wouldn't know what to do with it all!

We always have a large list of volunteer opportunities. Whether you are a community or scout group looking for community service hours or someone who is just looking to give back. You do not have to be a Trout Unlimited member, just have a willingness to do some good work for your community. Here are a few of the opportunities we currently have open with more coming all the time.

We're also brainstorming ways to thank and recognize the contributions made by our members and board leaders for the great work they do. More to come on that! 

ALL VOLUNTEER EVENTS WILL APPEAR ON THE CHAPTER EVENT CALENDAR

Stream Explorers Various dates throughout the year

Stream Explorers is our chapter youth initiative.

Each event is 2-3 hours. If you're interested in sharing your knowledge with young anglers, please contact Jim Jowsey at outreach@WNYtroutunlimited.org. you don't have to sign up for all the events, any assistance you can offer would be most appreciated.

Project Healing Waters with WNYTU One evening a month

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. Began In 2005 Serving Wounded Military Service Members At Walter Reed Army Medical Center Returning From Combat In Iraq And Afghanistan. Since Then, PHW Has Expanded Nationwide, Establishing Its Highly Successful Program In Department Of Defense Hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, And Veterans Affairs Medical Centers And Clinics.

We are currently running the Project Healing Waters program at the Buffalo Veterans Administration hospital on Bailey. The program is currently an hour long monthly fly tying class for the area's veterans. All materials are provided, but you're welcome to bring your own tools if you're more comfortable doing so.

Please contact Ken Kinecki at ken.kinecki@gmail.com if you would be interested in helping teach some of our area veterans a rewarding new passion.

Trout in the Classroom Mostly at the beginning of each school year

Trout (or Salmon) in the Classroom (TIC or SIC) offers students of all ages a chance to raise Salmonids in a classroom setting and then release them into a nearby stream or river. Caring for the fish fosters a conservation ethic in the students, and the act of walking to a streambank and directly releasing the fingerlings into the water makes a concrete connection between caring for the fish and caring for the water.

Trout Unlimited is just one of many organizations facilitating this program across the country. A mix of NGO and government agency support brings this environmental education program into schools in around 35 states. Over 5,000 classrooms participate annually.

We currently assist over a dozen schools all over the counties of Western New York bring this program to their students by providing them with equipment, materials and support.

Visit www.troutintheclassroom.org for more information about the program or Email Chuck Godfrey at troutintheclassroom@wnytroutunlimited.org to get involved locally!

Fly Tying Ongoing

Selling flies tied by our members is one of our longest standing fundraisers for the chapter. Folks come from all around every year to the fair and other events, seeking us out to replenish their fly boxes. It's actually a pretty amazing thing to see. If you would be willing to tie us a dozen or so flies to donate to the chapter we would be eternally grateful. Contact shows chair Brian Barrey at bazzbozz@gmail.com to find out what we're low on or to arrange pickup.

DEC Habitat Projects Various days and times

When the weather get nicer we are always involved in habitat and stream restoration projects with the DEC and other local partners. Most of these projects involve getting a bit dirty or wet and a shovel of some sort. Otherwise known as having a blast outdoors. We'll let you know when these opportunities come up.

Fishing and Outdoor Shows Various Dates throughout the year

Over the year you'll find us at annual events like the Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Show, The Hamburg Outdoor and Travel Show and the Erie County Fair among others. We're always looking for a few people to help with things like kids fly tying an casting activities, setup, teardown, selling a few flies and generally serving as an ambassador for WNYTU for a few hours. Please contact shows chair, Brian Barrey at bazzbozz@gmail.com if you can help us out.

Citizen Science Projects Throughout the Year

We are lucky enough to have in our area TU regional biologist Kyle Glenn, who is heading up a number of Citizen Science initiatives in the area and could really use some assistance. If either of these current projects interest you please contact Kyle directly at kyle.glenn@tu.org.

Also...

We are required to track volunteer hours to send to TU National. We've developed this simple tool that we ask folks fill out monthly to report their volunteer hours. CLICK HERE for the online form. Thanks!