About Mohawk Valley Trout in the classroom program
Our History
Our Volunteers
Our Volunteers
Mohawk Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter Trout in the Classroom program has been active for over 30 years by dedicated and passionate volunteers and teachers. We have helped classes from PreK to college raise thousands of brook trout from eggs to release. An helped a generation of students understand more about nature.
Our Volunteers
Our Volunteers
Our Volunteers
Our team of local volunteers support teachers throughout the school year with equipment, technical expertise, field trip guidance and teaching aids and presentations.
Trout in the Classroom is a national TU program with programs throughout the country.
Our Teachers
Our Volunteers
Our Teachers
We partner with great teachers and administrators who value the benefits of real-life hands-on learning experiences for students. By bringing trout into the classroom from egg to stream release, students better understand the impact of water quality and habitat on the environment.
how the MVTU TIC program works
Teachers and Students
Teachers are the most important aspect of the TIC program. It takes extra effort during the school year to raise live fish. Dedicated and attentive teachers are key to the success of the program.
The classes where students take responsibility for keeping track of the tank, water quality and fish learn the most from the program. It doesn't matter the age, as some students just naturally gravitate to this responsibility.
Each classroom is assigned a lead TU volunteer to answer questions and coordinate the TU support team.
Equipment and Set up
TIC equipment includes a 55 gallon aquarium, filter, chiller, hoses, thermometer, water test kips, insulation panels, nets, and food. the Mohawk Valley TU Chapter can provide the chiller, with the school supplying the rest of the equipment. The cost excluding the chiller is about $400-500.
Set up
TIC volunteers are available to help new teachers with setting up the tanks and preparing to receive the eggs. The program receives tremendous support from OHM BOCES as the intermediary between SUNY Morrisville and the classrooms. They also help supply the food for the trout and expertise.
Egg Delivery
200 Brook Trout eggs are generously provided by the SUNY Morrisville Hatchery in cooperation with OHM BOCES for each classroom. Teachers may arrange pickup of eggs or TU volunteers can deliver them.
Monitoring the Tank
From set up to release, water quality is key to a healthy trout population. Temperature, pH, ammonia must be checked frequently. Students learn the value of keeping a log of the parameters and other observations such as mortality. Some losses are expected.
Feeding
AFter the eggs hatch, they are called alevin and have a little sac that provides nourishment. After a few weeks the sacs disappear, and the fry must be fed the correct amount of food each day including holidays and vacations. Support from other school staff facilitates these school break periods.
Class Visits and Presentations
TU Volunteers are available to provide in class presentations on equipment, trout species and life cycle, habitat, food, predators and the release process. We can also help arrange field trip visits to local hatcheries.
Release Field Trip
In May or early June, the trout are large enough to release in a local trout stream. This is the most exciting part of the TIC experience, as the vast majority of students love the stream visit. TU obtains the necessary New York DEC permits for each class to release their trout. We also accompany the classes at the stream and help them find and identify the varieties of insects (trout food) that live in the water.
Schools need to budget the cost of stream field trip bus.