This past July, Soul Fly Lodge held its inaugural Fish for Change week and welcomed eight teenagers for a week-long immersion in the Berry Islands. Using fly fishing as an experiential learning and cultural exchange tool, the group focused on conservation, community, and leadership - pillars that Soul Fly Lodge strives to uphold as well. And, along the way there was a little fishing, of course.

Fish for Change is a Denver-based nonprofit whose mission is “use fly fishing as a platform to make the world a better place by uniting a diverse group of students in wild fisheries where they engage in a variety of initiatives that promote education, connection, exploration, and conservation.” With fly fishing as the catalyst, Fish for Change brings teens from the United States to international destinations to connect with local communities. Upon arrival, each group is joined by at least one student local to the location. The week is entirely ‘in the field’, and students come away from the weeks with new friendships and insights as well as invaluable, first-hand experiences in community stewardship.

During the week, Soul Fly Lodge’s veteran staff and guide team were joined by Soul Fly managing partner Alec Griswold and Fish for Change Executive Director Heather Harkavy, and the trip was documented by New England-based photographer Joe Klementovich. This year’s student group consisted of three young men from Great Harbour Cay – including Soul Fly Lodge operations staff member and guide-in-training Wanny Johnson – and five teenagers from states across the United States: Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, and Florida.

For Griswold, who is also the Founder of the Boston-based Elevate Youth – a nonprofit that empowers youth to explore the outdoors alongside mentors, sharing awe and the richness of our natural world – welcoming the program to Soul Fly Lodge was an easy decision.

“On Great Harbour Cay, we are always looking for ways to engage the next generation in fly fishing,” says Griswold. “It’s essential that young people are given the opportunity to explore our natural world and learn new skills. We are grateful for the support of the local school and our partnership with Fish for Change to make this first year a true success.”

Each day of the week was split between fly fishing education and fishing, and community, conservation, and skill-building. As the students’ fly fishing experience varied considerably, a lot of peer-instruction took place, and for Griswold and Harkavy, witnessing this in real time was one of the many joys of the week. On the water, the group was guided by the talented Soul Fly guides and there, youthful energy met calm expertise.

Off the water, the students spent time learning about local environmental conservation concerns. One afternoon saw the group retrieving fishing nets that had washed ashore and into mangroves, and another to talk about why both local and foreign advocates are necessary to help protect a fragile ecosystem. Later, a discussion was had on the importance of fly fishing guides and how their on-the-water expertise translates to effective stewardship, and another conversation brought to light the complicated elements of tourist cruise ships in the Bahamas as both detrimental to the environment but also an extremely critical piece of the local economy. In the latter conversation, having the local students available to share their personal experiences contributed incredible insights, especially for those from the United States.

Other non-angling adventures and experiences included a scavenger hunt which brought the students across the Great Harbour Cay village, an open-fire cook-off on the beach using fresh-caught snapper, plus snorkeling, cliff jumping, a visit to the island’s blue hole, plus nightly basketball games on the local courts. An impromptu career-fair of sorts had Griswold, Harkavy, and Klementovich discussing their career paths one evening. Suffice to say, the week was busy, and left the hosts exhausted and the students inspired.

One notable highlight came after dinner on the final night, when the guide staff shared their thoughts and reflections of the week. It was clear that the students had a profound effect on the guides, not only in their endless energy and open-minded approach to learning but also in their interest in the guides’ career paths. This latter point was especially true for Wanny and the two other Great Harbour Cay students, who are able to look to the Soul Fly Lodge and its staff as viable career considerations.

A special guest joining the guide staff for the week was Dre David, a former Fish for Change student, prior guide at Soul Fly Lodge, and current captain and guide on the Bimini Islands, where he grew up. For Dre, the week was a full circle moment as he was able to share his experiences growing up in the Bahamas with the group and discuss his path to becoming a professional guide, again providing a concrete example of an extremely attainable career. The example was especially powerful for Wanny, as he works to complete his guide training at Soul Fly. The two had the opportunity to fish together during the week and under Dre’s keen mentorship, Wanny poled him into a “Goombay Slam” - a bonefish, mutton snapper, and a permit, all in one day. It was a special moment for the entire group but there was no hiding the joy shared especially between Wanny and Dre that day.

“Anytime we travel and connect with people outside our regular circles, we learn and expand our perspectives,” says photographer Joe Klementovich. “Seeing kids from dramatically different backgrounds snorkeling for conchs, cooking fish over a fire on the beach, and playing basketball at the local court had me wishing more people could experience the Bahamas like this. Fish for Change is working one group at a time to build real relationships within communities and to create opportunities for both the local kids and the ones visiting.”

For Soul Fly Lodge, hosting the Fish for Change group was an important step in our ongoing and growing connection with the Great Harbour Cay community. To bring in the local students required building on our relationship with the local school and engaging with the principal and teachers there. While career options may be limited in the Bahamas, we hope to inspire the local students to explore career paths in hospitality, eco-tourism – and even fly fishing guiding. Additionally, we aim to be a resource and an open door for those interested in learning more.

It’s sometimes hard to see the effects of these types of endeavors in the short term, but word travels quickly on a small island. After the Fish for Change group had departed, but before Griswold had left for home, two boys approached him. They offered perhaps the surest sign of success: an inquiry about the following year’s group.