Fishing Forum

TRENTON, NJ-The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's (DFW) new Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program lets teachers raise trout in their classroom to teach students about water quality and fisheries. The TIC program allows students and teachers to raise trout in their classroom as part of a hands-on activity that engages students and helps connect them to real-life water quality, fish and wildlife issues and problems and inspires them to seek potential solutions. The DFW says the program encompasses not only science, but also language arts, mathematics, social studies and art and is easily adapted to the needs and abilities of middle school and high school students. Under the program, the DFW supplies brook trout eggs from the state's Pequest Trout Hatchery at no charge to teachers who want to raise trout in their classrooms. And state chapters of Trout Unlimited have also pledged to support this program through their chapters. Trout Unlimited members will assist teachers in setting up the aquaria in their classrooms. This includes supplying a product list, and sources of supply. Chapters have pledged financial support as well on a case-by-case basis. Some chapter members have expertise in aquatic insects and will work with kids on fly tying or aquatic insect identification. Eggs are delivered in October, and during the course of the school year, students can observe the trout rearing process that culminates in stocking their brook trout into approved streams. For more information on the TIC program, email TIC@njtu.org
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