CalTrout is a strong supporter of Trout in the Classroom (TIC) — a fun, innovative education program where K-12 students raise trout from eggs to fry — and then release them into a local body of water.
Not only do they witness the transformation of eggs to fish, they also learn about water quality (right in the fish tank), stream habitat restoration, water resources and the importance of healthy watersheds.
A joint fund with $1,000 in “seed money” has been established collaboratively by California Trout and the Southwest Council Federation of Fly Fishers to support & expand Trout in the Classroom to in Southern California elementary schools.
”The enthusiasm of students and teachers involved in TIC is manifest in the amazing variety and number of activities and projects,” said Nica Knite, CalTrout’s Southern California Regional Coordinator.
“Not only are teachers using TIC in the classroom, sometimes whole schools and even communities turn out for the release. Some have made release day a ‘mini-Earth Day,’ with educational booths, field projects, river clean-up and more,” said Knite.
“TIC crosses all scholastic disciplines and results in stronger understanding of math, science and social studies,” said Rich Bollinger, Southwest Council FFF volunteer coordinator.
Trout in the Classroom projects will be funded one-third by the combined Southwest Council FFF and California Trout fund, one-third by the class participating in the program and one-third by a local fly-fishing club. CalTrout is also host and facilitator of Trout in the Classroom projects in the Northern Sierra/Tahoe Region.
