Trout in The Classroom

Trout In the Classrom (TIC) provides students from K-12 a perspective of our environment by raising trout from eggs.  The teacher adapts the program to complement classes in science, social studies, and mathematics.

Students learn about the environment by monitoring water quality, studying stream habitat, and increase awareness of water resources.  The school year ends by releasing trout in a nearby watershed or a state-approved stream.

Fred S. Burroughs North Jersey TU Chapter sponsors or form partnerships with schools in our area.  Members volunteer by monitoring the programs and offer advice.

To learn more, visit TIC website by clicking here

October 2012 Trout in the Classroom Update

Another great TIC season is just before us and our chapter volunteers again will be delivering brook trout eggs to the schools this October 16. Of the 18 schools that participated in last year’s TIC program, 3 will not participate this year (Sandshore School, Budd Lake, Tinc Road School, Flanders, and Stanhope School,  Standhope).   The reasons for not participating varied, but they included class room changes, lack of running water in the classroom, and alike.  On the other hand, we were able to welcome four new schools to the program.  They are Green Hills School in Greendell,  John Hill School in Boonton, Maple Road School in West Milford and High Point Regional High School in Sussex.  This brings the total schools under the auspices of the FSB TU Chapter to 19.

Egg Delivery Day has been established as October 16, and eight FSB volunteers will meet early in the morning at the Pequest Trout Hatchery to receive the fertilized eggs for distribution to the TIC schools.

Many thanks to all who are able to give their time and effort in exchange for a truly rewarding experience.

Participating Schools

February 2012 Update

A little over three months have passed, since 18 North Jersey schools received a delivery of some 200 fertilized brook trout eggs, together with the necessary food supplies. We enjoyed a great turn-out of volunteers to deliver the eggs, and it was in a large part due to their efforts, that this day came and went without a flaw. Thanks to all!

 Since then, the eggs hatched and by now the fry has grown to a size of about an inch and a half. We did experience a small number of chiller problems, where the chillers had to be replace with a temporary loaner, until John Nordstedt, our (state-wide) chiller technician had made the repairs and re-delivered the chillers.

 A total of four schools so far did experience a fish die-off, one due to a power failure and the others due to various other circumstances. And one other school, West Milford’s Macopin School (please sit down before you read on….) had all their fish stolen and the class room vandalized in the process. I am told that this was a first for the TIC program, although there was a school in southern New Jersey some years ago, where vandals disconnected the chiller and filter, resulting in the total loss of fish. All five of the schools received a new supply of fish, which we picked up at the Pequest Hatchery. Let’s call it the January private stocking program.!

 All for now!

 Willi Huber

TIC Coordinator

Participating Schools