Jen Brophy and Gloria Curtis, the ladies behind Red River Camps, manage and own a sporting camp particularly known for its fly fishing. This camp has quite a history as the start of the camp began in 1886. William Whitman, the wealthy owner of several textile mills in Massachusetts, and Harry Chapman, a businessman, decided to follow their love of the outdoors to a remote logging area in Aroostook County, known at the time as the Red River Lakes region. There, they built a two-story cabin on a small island on what would eventually become known as Island Pond.

After completing the island cabin, the Whitman and Chapman families built several buildings on the north shore of the pond, including a school, barbershop, wood shop, a lodge to gather in, horse barns, and sleeping cabins. For over thirty years, their extended families used the camp as a private retreat, typically staying for an entire season each year. If rumors can be trusted, they converted the island cabin to a dance hall, complete with piano, for a number of years.

When the Norrises decided to sell Red River in 1979, the Brophy family agreed to run the camps for a season until the Norrises could locate a buyer. The rest, as they say, is history.

After Jen’s father retired from the business she decided to take Red River Camps over and has been working alongside Gloria for many years to bring folks an experience unlike no other. Tune in to learn more about the camp and its cabins decked out in decor inspired by fly fishing, the crafting behind Gloria's delicious meals handmade by Gloria the wonderful hospitality they offer, and much more.

Lauren is a fly fishing angler who works full-time for a software company and her side hustles are candlemaking and crafting CBD oils. What Kristan found interesting about Lauren is that during the beginning of the pandemic, she wanted to craft something with her hands, she would get tired of looking at a computer screen and just needed to find a place to you know, focus on her mental health and just take a break and outdoors allows her to do that as well as these two side hustles that she created. She does everything from sourcing materials to learn how to craft these products with the candles and the CBD oils, which is quite the process. Then she also goes through the testing process, particularly with the CBD oils as well. So she knows everything. The reason why Kristan brought her into this series is that Kristan finds that a lot of folks are still focusing on their corporate careers and that's something that they'll probably do for the rest of their lives. But Kristan finds that it's so amazing to hear and see that these individuals can have a hobby of crafting and getting something done with their hands and doing something that is way different from what they're doing in their corporate jobs. Tune in to learn more about Loren's craft, life here in Maine and how the outdoors particularly fly fishing inspires her.

Bri Dostie, a Maine Recreation and Fishing Guide as well as an illustrator, writer, and founder of Confluence Collective an organization has identified that fly fishing culture is exclusive and primarily informed by the white male cis-gendered, able-bodied lived experience. The organization's mission is to remove barriers, support individual and community growth, and instigate change and amplify stories more representative of human diversity on the water. Kristan was introduced to Bri through Maine Outdoor Brands which is a membership organization that brings together outdoor brands in our lovely state of Maine. Bri is on the board and when she heard about her illustration work she knew she had to have her on the podcast. Her illustration work is inspired by nature and has been featured in The Flyfish Journal, Fish and Forage, and many more. She even does commission work, perfect gifts for the holidays. Tune in to learn more about Bri's work with Confluence Collective and how her the outdoors inspired her studio art.

Mary Zambello is the owner, maker, and designer of Reclaimed Maine. Her beautiful studio and wood shop are located at her home in Windham. Her business encompasses her love for the Maine Outdoors using lakes, pines, and coastlines as her inspiration. She custom designs and hand makes all of her products in hopes that they can inspire exploration and give back to Maine's environment. Her custom Pine Tree Coast design, which was the first design that kicked off her business, combines the love for Maine's forest and coast, the mission to protect it, and the desire to explore it as often as we can! Each year, she donates 10% of net proceeds from the Pine Tree Coast collection to the Natural Resources Council of Maine in order to help protect and reclaim Maine’s environment. She designs hats, apparel, and cutting boards and she even designs custom signs. But what is unique about the wood is that it is sustainably harvested. When you walk into her shop you feel like you’re stepping foot into a miniature LL Bean but it has some fun creatures you can pet including her beautiful cat and her extremely nice dog.

The Becoming a Maker series is proud to present the first Lady Maker on The Fly interview. Meet Maine Fly Company’s rod smiths Izzy Hutnak. Founder Jeff Davis started Maine Fly Company to celebrate his late father’s passion for fly fishing and Maine. Jeff was working a corporate gig prior to starting his own company and traveling a ton for work when his father passed, he stumbled upon his father’s fly rod collection and something clicked. He started toying around with the idea of building rods but not just any rod — a rod that is an art form. From the colorful blank to the custom grip to the finished reel seat — these rods are truly one of a kind. Made by hand, in small batches and many of his rods are inspired by and named after fisheries in Maine. Jeff left his corporate job and went full time with Maine Fly Company and as of two years ago has started to build a team that aims to keep the state’s fly-fishing culture and heritage alive through high-quality craftsmanship of their small batch rods.

Makers of the USA is proud to present a very special series that is a little outside the box than previous episodes that have been on the podcast. Kristan pulled together an amazing group of female makers and fly-fishing anglers to head up to Red River Camps in the northern Maine woods. These ladies have their hands in many types of craft from building fly rods to candles and CBD oil making to woodworking and graphic design to experiences and photography and videography. Some of these ladies are brand new to fly fishing such as myself. Some are quite the anglers and are certainly mentors of mine being a newbie in the fly fishing sport. What I find important to storytelling now having this podcast for over three years is impactful conversations and having these conversations among a group of makers is mind-blowing to me. There is so much raw material that comes from these that I thoroughly enjoy them and I hope you do too.

Makers of the USA has partnered up with Skowhegan Savings Bank on a mini-series called Becoming A Maker. For the second episode of the series, Kristan Vermeulen interviews Madison High School principal Christopher LeBlanc and Chris Beaman welding instructor at Somerset Career and Technical Center (SCTC)’s welding center at Madison High School. SCTC trains over 300 students across Somerset County in various tech trades including welding. The welding program had an ongoing waitlist and the team decided they needed to expand. Madison Area Memorial High School offered a space that was previously used as a metal shop. The tech center was awarded a grant to cover a great portion of the costs. David Dorr the Director of SCTC, alongside Madison High School principal Christopher LeBlanc; and other stakeholders including Skowhegan Savings Bank raised funds to complete the project. Not only does this welding shop help students build their skills, it also allows them to receive certifications and college degrees and helps them get a career by building bridges and other interesting projects. Tune in to the episode to learn more about how Christopher LeBlanc supported SCTC in expanding their program by building a welding center attached to Madison High School and how Chris Beaman teaches his students in all areas of welding and best positions his students in getting a full-time career utilizing the skills they were taught at the center.

Makers of the USA has partnered up with Skowhegan Savings Bank on a mini-series called Becoming A Maker. To kick off the series Kristan Vermeulen interviews Alternative Manufacturing Inc., one of New England’s best resources for electronic contract manufacturing, that is based in Winthrop, Maine. AMI serves a wide range of clients throughout the USA, Canada & Europe in markets such as; Medical, Industrial, Green Technologies, Robotics, and Mil/Aero. Kristan interviews Kim Vandermeulen and Jim Barry about how they help start-up companies with their tech needs. A great example of how AMI assisted someone in bringing their dream to life was with a woman who lives in Winthrop who wanted to find a technological solution for seniors to remember their walkers when navigating throughout the day. They have also assisted start-ups with indoor vertical farming and ropeless lobster traps. Tune in to learn more about AMI's history, how they have helped not only start-ups but international companies with their tech needs, and how Kim is not only a maker focused on tech but of delicious beverages.