Frequently Asked Questions
How can I help?
First of, thank you for taking on the mission and wanting to be a part of something bigger than all of us! We work to ensure every collaboration starts with understanding each other, and working creatively towards mutual exchange of learning and sharing.
The best place to start is by being in touch: us@confluencecollective.org
We’ll work with you to map out what we bring to the table and learn what you can offer as well. If you’d like some direction in advance, take a look through our On The Water page to see what we already do through collaborative events, consulting, and other partnerships. Don’t let these options limit your sense of possibility: we’re excited to explore unique collaborations creatively and openly.
On an individual level, we encourage anglers who are part of existing community groups to consider who and what identities are represented within the group, who holds leadership and decision making powers, and what systems of operation are in place that could be exclusionary to underrepresented perspectives. Get curious, get uncomfortable, and be accountable to your own growth and healing.
What is a sliding scale pricing model, and why do you use it?
Confluence Collective participates in sliding scale pricing models for community events and product offerings. We encourage community to self-select the tier that best fits their level of financial stability and privilege; please refer to the Green Bottle sliding scale by Alexis J. Cunningfolk for guidance on how to identify the rate for you, and look for the Additional Information listed on each product and event offering. The left hand bottle corresponds to the “Take My Money” rates on our experiences and products. The “Base Rate” is set to cover actual costs, including administrative time. A “Subsidized Rate” is also offered, relying on community subsidies from the “Take My Money” rate — allowing for anonymous support to ensure access by and for community. If this feels like the right price for you, we encourage you to select it.
Subsidized rates and spots are planned into every program, supported by folks with access to more resources who identify higher on the sliding scale. Subsidized products are also planned into every product drop.
Being financially accessible is a core part of our mission. If you are unable to pay at any of the rates we have listed, please reach out. We will either work out a payment plan and/or provide a code to offset whatever you need: us@confluencecollective.org
Are these programs just for women?
Nope! The whole idea behind the community spaces we hold is to offer a welcoming and accessible space for fly fishers who don’t match the archetype; we hold an intersectional lens to how we define and address access, actively working to provide spaces that are safer and more joyful in the ways queer, gender-queer, BiPOC, disabled, and otherwise diverse folks want and need. Establishing a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment and community base is necessary for fly fishing broadly to de-center heteronormative, ableist, colonizing, white supremacy informed, financially privileged, and cisgendered norms. Every body belongs on the water.
Confluence Collective experiences are intended to create an approachable environment to explore new waters alongside new fishing buddies, develop skills, and open up intersectionally aware dialogue in the community beyond the majority white male voice. Come be a part of cultural change, make some friends, and catch some beautiful fish while you’re at it!
How are these programs different than fly fishing destination trips?
Fly fishing trips you book through a fly shop or gear company focus on one perspective: the fly shop or gear company. Trips are offered as a product to make the shop or company money. Sure, you can have a productive fly fishing experience in this way, and maybe even luck out with an incredible guide who is thoughtful in approach and sustainable in practice — but it’s not a sure thing. Definitely ask for referrals if you’re going this route!
Confluence Collective fly fishing experiences and Outcast Campouts are a partnership between communities, which ensures mutual benefit and mission remain central to the experience — not money. These programs are more about creating a supportive environment to enjoy and learn within the sport, and connect you with other fly fishers who prioritize mindful interaction, conservation, and healthy fisheries for the future. We work with guides who we know and trust and if anything, provide introduction to the right shops and companies for your independent adventures! We also believe in paying good folks doing good work a fair and sustainable rate, rather than rely on volunteered time which, over time, often results in burnout.
An added benefit of participating in a program is the group environment: booking a trip on your own can be super expensive. Fly fishing exchanges not only put you in touch with other awesome fly fishers, but the experience is accessible at a much lower cost than if you book something on your own. You can definitely try to corral your buddies to all sign up for the same trip, but you’ll be missing out on the local perspective: meet new friends without the headache of coordinating a group, and benefit from their local insight!
Finally, you can feel good about your impact: proceeds from programs go back into local conservation projects, community fundraisers and initiatives to support the awesome people doing awesome things in awesome places, within their local context. So far, we have had the opportunity to support MMIP families, MMIW, Nibezun, First Light, and the Marsha P Johnson Institute. Thank you for supporting!
What is Confluence Collectives Event Cancellation Policy?
Recognizing the registration process for events happens in advance of the experience, we request notification of any changes to your attendance to be communicated to us@confluencecollective.org as soon as possible. Canceled spots for events with attendance maximums will then be offered up to community for another angler to take your place. Outcast Campout events in particular have high demand for attendance, so please consider keeping us in the know so we can share the opening quickly with those on the waiting list, or beyond.
To receive a full refund for the amount of your event registration, we require 60 days notice prior to the event date unless otherwise stated in event details. Any cancellation in the 30 days before the event will not be refunded, and will go towards another angler’s participation in a future event.
If you have any questions about this policy or what kind of refund you may be eligible for, contact us@confluencecollective.org. Thank you!
Is this an NGO?
Confluence Collective is a workers cooperative and member of the solidarity economy. While not classified as a non-profit, our mission may sound more like an NGO than corporation: proceeds from programming and membership go back into community initiatives and conservation projects, and also allow us to financially support community members who make programs happen. We don’t think our industry partners who employ sustainable and inclusive practice should make a lower living wage for being good people. Instead, we want to build them up to be successful. We aspire for a day when every guide, shop, and fly fishing community group welcomes diversity in the sport and in their clients — we want to change the standard practice of business to be more inclusive as a whole. We won’t achieve our goal of real change in the industry by relying on favors and donations. Businesses need to be accountable to meaningful growth and change.
Confluence Collective follows worker cooperative practices and structures internally to center mutuality, sustainability, collaborative and democratic decision making. We’re not looking for charity — we’re looking for collaborators who want to get paid doing what they love, and plan to support those in the industry who join us in our mission. By collaborating with Confluence Collective, you contribute to important initiatives expanding access, keeping our waters clean and helping those who need a day on the water most get that opportunity. Each program experience funds those involved in making it happen, Land Back and contemporary indigenous solidarity initiatives, projects like Casting for Recovery, The Mayfly Project, and other local community initiatives to further their reach and impact.
I’ve heard a lot about fly fishing, but am definitely not an expert. Can I still participate?
Absolutely. There are a lot of amazing fly-fishers-in-waiting out there who love being outside and get excited by the idea of exploring nature with a fishing objective. Our programs welcome all levels: there will be newbies and seasoned experts in the group, and we’ll learn from each other through the experience. Each program will have the flexibility for a very packed schedule of on the water time — or not! You’ll choose how hardcore you want to be and how you want to spend your time. We also believe many narratives around fly fishing travel doesn’t support a sense of belonging and perpetuate extractive, colonization-informed experiences as a visitor; you can catch bonefish as a beginner, and you should hear from more voices than a resort-style fishing lodge owner.
Need gear? Let us know and we’ll get it sorted through the Outcast Gear Locker. Want to hone a more technical skill? No problem — we’ll make sure you have the time, space, and guidance you need to improve, at whatever starting skill level you come with. We aim to foster an open learning environment where you should feel comfortable asking questions, exploring new skills, and talking through process. Let us know where you’re at!
I’m not part of a local community group, or I don’t think my group has a partnership. Can I still join?
Yes! Some of us don’t have community groups we can go to for support. Confluence Collective has partnered with NGOs, fly shops, entrepreneurs, big brands, regional community groups, and badass individual anglers to create experiences for those who haven’t felt belonging within the existing fly fishing community. We need to work together if we want a more supportive and inclusive fly fishing culture!
Confluence Collective is actively exploring new partnerships. Even if you don’t see a program you want to join now doesn’t mean we won’t have one in the future! Stay up to date with new offerings and let us know what’s on your bucket list.