Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a program where students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings. It fits well in the NYS school curricula, with lesson plans, science, English, and art units. Students learn about watersheds, ecosystems, water quality, the fragility of the trout's world, and more. Trout eggs are hatched, cared for, fed, provided with a careful environment, and eventually released into a local stream which helps students become attached to the stream where their trout live. They are able to witness the lifecycle of trout and gain an understanding of the trout’s requirements for clean, cold, and unpolluted water. Participants engage in stream habitat studies to connect with and gain an appreciation for their local water resources. The Clearwater Chapter currently has TIC programs running at various grade levels, elementary through high school, in twelve local school districts. The Chapter's conservation funds are used to help purchase and maintain equipment, such as expensive chillers which keep the water in the tanks cold, which can cost hundreds of dollars. For more information on how you can support TIC or start a program in your classroom please contact Ron Dorn.
