Trout In The Classroom
Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is an environmental program which teaches young students about trout and the environment in which they live through the process of raising trout from eggs in aquarium in their schools. TIC was started by the late Joan Stoliar and the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers (TGF) of New York City. The Croton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CWCTU) has been involved with and supported the program for local schools for many years. In addition, CWCTU volunteers assist local schools as well as schools from New York City in the release of fingerlings in the streams of the Croton watershed in the spring.
Partner Event Note from NYC TU: Volunteer for TIC and Win Gear or Float the Delaware!
Details: We’re thrilled to announce a new sweepstakes for Trout in the Classroom (TIC) volunteers, thanks to generous support from Orvis and CityFly. This spring, lend a hand at a student trout release and you’ll be automatically entered to win:
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A brand-new Orvis Helios™ Fly Rod choose your model
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A guided float trip on the Delaware River with Brian Sheppard from CityFly
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It’s our way of saying thank you for showing up and making a difference.
With around 70 open volunteer slots between now and June 4, your odds of winning look pretty good.
Release season is one of the most rewarding times to get involved. Seeing kids release trout they’ve raised is something special. Volunteers are needed to assist at school releases, help distribute trout eggs in the fall and support our fundraising efforts.
Registration Link: Trout in the Classroom: 2025 Trout Releases
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Each year, in early October, there is a Trout in the Classroom (TIC) teacher conference at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY. There teachers attend various TIC workshops and pick up trout eggs from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) along with trout food. The students watch the eggs hatch into fish and care for them until spring, when the students release the fish into local streams. Students learn first hand about fish development, water chemistry, the importance of cold clean water to the environment, as well as gaining a respect for living things. Students are given the responsibility of caring for the young trout. The highlight of the school year is when the students release their trout into a local stream.The equipment for a TIC program costs about $1300. This is cost prohibitive for many schools so the Croton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CWCTU) funds teachers and schools with the equipment they need to get started and also helps with various on-going supplies. At present, CWCTU sponsors twenty eight schools in Westchester and Putnam counties.
HELPING NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS
Since there is no suitable location in New York City, CWCTU aids New York City Schools with the release of their trout into Cross River in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Our Volunteers help the students release their trout and show them the macro-invertebrates ("bugs") the trout eat. Last year over 2000 New York City schoolchildren from over 40 schools released their trout in our watershed.
SCHOOLS SUPPORTED BY CWCTU
Name / School or Organization:
Tina Buzzetto / Irvington Middle School
Amy Panitz / Irvington Middle School
Karen Bodnar / Irvington Middle School
Nicole Arvanites / Irvington Middle School
Robin Carpus / Mount Vernon High School
Christi Browne / Scarsdale Middle School
Ben Turner / Scarsdale Middle School
Amanda DeSerio / Fox Lane Middle School
Christine Ledrich / Fox Lane Middle School
Kristin Woodell / Fox Lane Middle School
Rachel Hess / Fox Lane Middle School
Terri Agravat / Trinity Elementary
Keith Miller / Lakeland High School
Sarah Geronimo / Robert E Bell MS
Tom Hall / Westlake Middle School
Kate Sullivan / Westlake Middle School
Mary Cerbini / Austin Road Elementary
Tom Jordan / Fulmar Road Elementary
Maria Natiello / Fulmar Road Elementary
Jessica Loprieno / Briarcliff Middle School
Nicole Arvanites / Irvington Middle School
Jeffrey Williams / Scarsdale High School
Robin Carpus / Mount Vernon High School
Maura Crawford / St. James the Apostle
Brad Schalkham / Kent Elementary School
Steven Glinias / Mount Vernon STEAM Academy
Stephanie Ryan / Kent Elementary School
Kirsten Rusinko / H.H. Wells Middle School Brewster
Drew Scecina / Mamaroneck Union Free SchoolDistrict
Jonathan Larosa / New Rochelle High School
Matt Funnell / John Jay High School
Edward Schmidt / Brewster Central Schools
Adam Chertok / Eastchester UFSD