Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a relatively simple environmental education program that can be adapted across the curriculum for grades K-12. Enthusiastically received by teachers, TIC has grown in Connecticut from two classrooms offering the program in school year ‘05/06 to almost eighty classrooms in school year ‘09/10.

Trout Unlimited, with the financial assistance of Trout Unlimited members, civic groups, PTAs, business leaders and private individuals, arranges for all of the equipment, curriculum materials, training and assistance.

A specially equipped aquarium is set up in the early fall. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection gracefully furnishes fertilized eggs and feed; TU volunteers provide training and assistance to teachers who wish to present the course.

Teachers set up an aquarium and incubate trout eggs in their classroom with the help of a Trout in the Classroom coordinator (a TU member). Together, they ensure that all of the equipment has been purchased and is assembled by September. In general the teacher and students are responsible for daily maintenance and observation of the eggs, while the coordinator is responsible for obtaining permits, delivering the eggs, and arranging for one or more TU TIC volunteers to serve as mentors.

At the end of the program in spring, the final result is an aquarium full of trout fry (juvenile fish) that are released into a state-approved body of water during a class field trip in late April to early June.

Trout in the Classroom is an extremely rewarding program for students, teachers and mentors. The program can be set up in one school or in collaboration with different schools.

What are the requirements for setting up a program?

• Interested teacher
• Permission of the school principal
• Aquarium and other related equipment

I’m interested. Please tell me more.

1) Visit www.troutintheclassroom.org

2) Download and view an Adobe Reader presentation (7.3 MB) [click here]
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3) Get in touch with your local TU chapter, or contact Ed Albrecht: albrecht_ed@yahoo.com - (203) 271-1103

Click here to view the most up to date list of class locations, grades and students touched by Trout In the Classroom.

Funded by TU chapters, PTAs, local businesses, civic groups and private individuals, Trout In the Classroom (TIC) is made possible by dedicated teachers and volunteers as well as by the generosity of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.