Education Programs
For more information on Education/TIC Programs contact
Ken Burrows - TIC Coordinator 860-885-8701 [email protected]
Trout in the Classroom - School Year 2025-2026 Update
Not too long after the school year started in September, I sent an email to 15 teachers, in our (TVTU) area of the state, who had participated in the program, were planning to participate and to some who were inquiring about the program. I was hopeful that we would have about 10 schools in the program this year. It did not work out to be that many, as we have seven schools with tanks set up and running waiting for the arrival of trout eggs. The tanks were set up, filled with water, water conditioner and good bacteria added and filters was plugged in to start the "pre-cycle" stage to prepare the water for the eggs, and fish after hatching.
The date has been set for the delivery of brown trout eggs, from the Kensington State Fish Hatchery to the schools participating in the Trout in the Classroom Program this school year. The CT Chapter TIC coordinators will be meeting at the commuter parking area at the intersection of Rte. 691 and Rte. 10 in Cheshire, CT at 8 in the morning on Monday, January 12th to collect the containers of eggs, and baggies of food needed for the schools in their location. There are approximately 250 eggs in each container with each school receiving one container of eggs and the food needed for the first five months of the trout's lives. This year I will be collecting seven containers of eggs then meeting two of our members in Marlborough, CT, Steve Gerling and Charley McCaughtry have so generously volunteered to help with the egg delivery by taking the eggs and food to three schools in Windham County and one in Lebanon, in New London County.
Last year, only three schools received eggs. The schools were Hall Memorial School in Willington and Natchaug Elementary School in Windham County and Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School in Groton. Fitch H.S. took a second container of eggs, because another school, which believed to be ready to receive eggs was not. Fortunately, a fourth school was ready for eggs that were not delivered. So, after a few weeks, I moved between 100-150 trout fry from Fitch H.S. to the Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy in Windham County. (A story and photos of the release events for 2025 can be found on the website).
This year, we have more than doubled the number of schools in the program over last year. There are three schools in Windham County. Hall Memorial and Natchaug Elementary Schools are returning again this year and joining them is Windham High School. There are four schools in New London County this year. Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School is returning for a second year and joining them for the first time with a new teacher is the North Stonington Elementary School. Also for the first year is Mitchell College in New London and the fourth school is Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon. Like the North Stonington Elementary School, Lyman Memorial had been in the TIC program but, this is the first year with a new teacher in the program.
I want to say: "Thank you, for a job well done!" to all of the teachers who have worked extremely hard to get what they needed for materials; and to get the tanks up and running for this year.
I hope you all have Happy Holidays! Be safe and I will see you in January 2026!
When I took the position of coordinator of the program for the chapter, I was given four chillers that were inoperable and (I was told) it would cost almost as much to ship them (to California) and get the repairs made as it would cost to buy new. I found a man in Bow, NH who works on the chillers for the New Hampshire TU (TIC program). He has refurbished several of the chillers for TVTU and will be doing the same for other chillers that we will need to have refurbished. He is Robert Ives, owner of Bow Plumbing. Thank you, Bob!
To the readers of this TIC update, I hope you have (or had) Happy Holidays!
I'll see you in the future with more updates on the TIC Program!!!
Ken Burrows
TVTU
TIC Program Coordinator
Not too long after the school year started in September, I sent an email to 15 teachers, in our (TVTU) area of the state, who had participated in the program, were planning to participate and to some who were inquiring about the program. I was hopeful that we would have about 10 schools in the program this year. It did not work out to be that many, as we have seven schools with tanks set up and running waiting for the arrival of trout eggs. The tanks were set up, filled with water, water conditioner and good bacteria added and filters was plugged in to start the "pre-cycle" stage to prepare the water for the eggs, and fish after hatching.
The date has been set for the delivery of brown trout eggs, from the Kensington State Fish Hatchery to the schools participating in the Trout in the Classroom Program this school year. The CT Chapter TIC coordinators will be meeting at the commuter parking area at the intersection of Rte. 691 and Rte. 10 in Cheshire, CT at 8 in the morning on Monday, January 12th to collect the containers of eggs, and baggies of food needed for the schools in their location. There are approximately 250 eggs in each container with each school receiving one container of eggs and the food needed for the first five months of the trout's lives. This year I will be collecting seven containers of eggs then meeting two of our members in Marlborough, CT, Steve Gerling and Charley McCaughtry have so generously volunteered to help with the egg delivery by taking the eggs and food to three schools in Windham County and one in Lebanon, in New London County.
Last year, only three schools received eggs. The schools were Hall Memorial School in Willington and Natchaug Elementary School in Windham County and Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School in Groton. Fitch H.S. took a second container of eggs, because another school, which believed to be ready to receive eggs was not. Fortunately, a fourth school was ready for eggs that were not delivered. So, after a few weeks, I moved between 100-150 trout fry from Fitch H.S. to the Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy in Windham County. (A story and photos of the release events for 2025 can be found on the website).
This year, we have more than doubled the number of schools in the program over last year. There are three schools in Windham County. Hall Memorial and Natchaug Elementary Schools are returning again this year and joining them is Windham High School. There are four schools in New London County this year. Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School is returning for a second year and joining them for the first time with a new teacher is the North Stonington Elementary School. Also for the first year is Mitchell College in New London and the fourth school is Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon. Like the North Stonington Elementary School, Lyman Memorial had been in the TIC program but, this is the first year with a new teacher in the program.
I want to say: "Thank you, for a job well done!" to all of the teachers who have worked extremely hard to get what they needed for materials; and to get the tanks up and running for this year.
I hope you all have Happy Holidays! Be safe and I will see you in January 2026!
When I took the position of coordinator of the program for the chapter, I was given four chillers that were inoperable and (I was told) it would cost almost as much to ship them (to California) and get the repairs made as it would cost to buy new. I found a man in Bow, NH who works on the chillers for the New Hampshire TU (TIC program). He has refurbished several of the chillers for TVTU and will be doing the same for other chillers that we will need to have refurbished. He is Robert Ives, owner of Bow Plumbing. Thank you, Bob!
To the readers of this TIC update, I hope you have (or had) Happy Holidays!
I'll see you in the future with more updates on the TIC Program!!!
Ken Burrows
TVTU
TIC Program Coordinator
Thames Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter 282
Trout In The Classroom 2024-2025
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The year for raising trout started off differently than “planned” and it ended the same (similar) way. It started on January 9th when I (Ken Burrows) met with the president of the chapter (Gary Lussier) and we traveled to Marlborough, CT to meet with the chapter coordinator for TIC (Jim Valuckas). We received two packages of fertilized Brown Trout eggs (Qty 250 per container) from the Kensington State Fish Hatchery. One container was to go to a school that had been in the program in the past, North Stonington Elementary School in North Stonington, and the other was to go to Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School in Groton. It was the first year for the school, and for the teacher(s) Hillery Clifton & Tracie LaPietra. Due to the teacher leaving NSES, and a new teacher (Abigail “Abby” Merchant) taking the place of the past teacher, and other issues, they did not receive their trout eggs, Fitch did! In the meantime, Jim V. was delivering containers with eggs to Natchaug Elementary School in Willimantic and Hall Memorial School n Willington.
Unfortunately, a handful of schools did not get involved this year, for a variety of reasons. In February, I found that the Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy in North Windham had the tank running but they received no eggs. Fitch, having more fish than tank for them, gave up between 100-150 fry; the STEM Academy became the recipient and both schools benefitted. Mrs. Clifton was pregnant, and in April asked someone at CT’s DEEP if she could release the fish early. A date (April 22) and a time 14:30 at the Lower Hewitt “Farm” pond was agreed upon. I met the women at the end of the parking area where the Shunock River enters to pond. Nobody counted the number of fish released but it was around 75 fish. Robert E. Fitch Sr. High School Trout Release on April 2, 2025 took place at the Lower Hewitt Farm Pond in North Stonington, CT |
At the beginning of May I contacted the teacher, Katie Rychling, at the school and spoke about a release date & time and the location. I was informed that the Willimantic River runs past the school within a short walk from the school, and that is where the students have been releasing the trout since the beginning of the school’s journey with TU and the TIC program. I was contacted about a week before the planned release date of June 2 and given a time of 10 am.
On Monday, June 2, 2025, my wife accompanied me on a trip to Hall Memorial School for the release of the trout, the seventh-grade class of Ms. Katie Rychling, raised in her classroom. We arrived early so I had time to set up my fishing gear to show the students and my wife started a conversation with four eighth grade girls, while I assembled & strung my fly rod. After a few more minutes, we were joined by about 25-30 students and faculty just outside the back of the building where I introduced myself and my wife. I showed them my wading gear and briefly explained fly fishing to them, and showed them how a fly rod is cast. We then walked the few minutes it took to get to the release site, where the South Willington Brook runs along the school’s property line and feeds into the Willimantic, within 20 yards of where the students released the fingerlings into the brook. We all walked back to the school where I was able to have a couple of students come forward and I gave them a quick lesson in fly rod casting before they all had to return to their classes. Katie and I had a discussion later in the week and we spoke about getting more time for next year and having some volunteers show up to do a little more with the students. I have some ideas that I want to work on for 2026. Hall Memorial School Trout Release on June 2, 2025 took place in the South Willington Brook a tributary of the Willimantic River. |
Natchaug Elementary School – Willimantic, CT
According to Jim Valuckas, Natchaug Elementary is one of the most successful at raising trout.
I called the school a few weeks ago, and asked that Mrs. Lauren Jara return my call when she had a few minutes to talk. She did, and we spoke about a release date and time… June 4 at 10 AM, with June 6 at 10 AM as a rain date. All is set, until the morning of June 4, 25. Then it was “Can you come for 9:30 instead of 10?” I had to scramble but, I made it a few minutes before 9:30. I donned my waders, boots and vest just in time. The students and teachers walked for about 10 minutes from the school to the Philip Lauter Park, along the Natchaug River. I walked into the water and took photos, many purposely without the children’s, faces in them. I was told by the teacher keeping the tally, that 101 fingerlings were released into the Natchaug River in Willimantic. I also brought along my fly rod. When all of the fish were released, I asked if anyone would like to learn how to cast with a fly rod. One by one I went through the two dozen or so fifth-grade students, teaching them to cast, with their hand in mine each one cast 30-40 feet of line into the river. All left to return to the school with smiles on their faces.
According to Jim Valuckas, Natchaug Elementary is one of the most successful at raising trout.
I called the school a few weeks ago, and asked that Mrs. Lauren Jara return my call when she had a few minutes to talk. She did, and we spoke about a release date and time… June 4 at 10 AM, with June 6 at 10 AM as a rain date. All is set, until the morning of June 4, 25. Then it was “Can you come for 9:30 instead of 10?” I had to scramble but, I made it a few minutes before 9:30. I donned my waders, boots and vest just in time. The students and teachers walked for about 10 minutes from the school to the Philip Lauter Park, along the Natchaug River. I walked into the water and took photos, many purposely without the children’s, faces in them. I was told by the teacher keeping the tally, that 101 fingerlings were released into the Natchaug River in Willimantic. I also brought along my fly rod. When all of the fish were released, I asked if anyone would like to learn how to cast with a fly rod. One by one I went through the two dozen or so fifth-grade students, teaching them to cast, with their hand in mine each one cast 30-40 feet of line into the river. All left to return to the school with smiles on their faces.
TVTU Teaching Kids to Fish at the Audubon Society Day CampOur presentations at the Floating Workshop received such good reviews that the Audubon Society Kids Day Camp contacted us the following day and asked if we could help teaching kids to fish,
Although it was short notice, TVTU managed to get four members to attend. There were twelve kids ages six to nine and they had been practicing casting with spinning rods in the camp driveway. This was the first time that many of them had ever fished. We all met at the Hampton Reservoir and the kids were split up in groups of three between TVTU members Ray Schaefer, Gary Lussier, Charley McCaughtry and Bruce Danielson. They fished with worms and bobbers and fortunately the Calico bass were biting and the kids had a great time. |
Spey Casting Clinic with Bill Keister May 13th, 9:30 am - 3pm
Bill Keister a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) certified Master Casting Instructor (MCI) provided “words of wisdom” and a brief overview of Spey casting (single or two handed) and followed with a demonstration of Spey and Skagit casting and techniques. This was a hands-on clinic with plenty of time on the water with individual instruction and help as require. After a fine lunch and conversation there was additional practice and instruction time. A very informative and fun day learning another way to pursue our passion of cold water fisheries. Eastford TIC Fly Casting Class
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Trout in the Classroom (TIC)
Trout in the Classroom is an environmental education program that can be used in any school, in grades K-12, and applied across the curriculum. It has been a huge success in the schools that are involved. Basically, teachers set up an aquarium and incubate trout eggs in their classroom, under the guidance of a Trout in the Classroom coordinator (a TU member). Together, they ensure that all of the equipment has been purchased and is assembled early in the school year. The teacher and students are responsible for daily maintenance and observation of the eggs, while the coordinator is responsible for guidance and delivering the eggs and food. The final result is an aquarium full of trout fry that are released into a trout stream during a class field trip in late May to early June. Trout in the Classroom is an extremely rewarding program for everybody involved, whether student, teacher, or mentor. The program can be set up in one school or as collaboration with many different schools. Our goal is to have the program in at least one school in every town in the Thames Valley Chapter area. This can be achieved and can only be reached with continued support from TU members and others in the community.
Presently we have 14 schools enrolled in TIC. They are: Chaplin Elementary, Eastford Elementary, E.O. Smith Alternate High School (Storrs), Windham H.S. (Willimantic), C.H. Barrows STEM Academy (North Windham), Lisbon Central, Griswold Elementary, Killingly Intermediate, Nathan Hale-Ray (Moodus), Lyman Memorial High School (Lebanon), West Side Middle School (Groton), Lillie B. Haynes Elementary (Niantic), Wheeler M.S., (North Stonington), and Franklin Elementary.
How do I get involved? Get a teacher interested. Donate towards the cost of equipment. Become a mentor for a school near you. Share your knowledge of trout and their habitat by making a presentation to a school. These are a few of the possibilities.
TIC has a initial cost of about $1500 but maintenance is not expensive. The chiller is the most expensive item on the list, amounting to more than half the total needed for a set-up. Trout Unlimited Thames Valley Chapter is seeking Sponsors to finance our Trout in the Classroom Program.
If you would like to donate, mail a check to Trout Unlimited Chapter #282, PO Box 2181, Columbus, CT 06237.
Mark your check or include a note stating that the donation is for Trout in the Classroom. For more information on TIC contact Jim Valuckas -215-208-3873 - [email protected]
Trout in the Classroom is an environmental education program that can be used in any school, in grades K-12, and applied across the curriculum. It has been a huge success in the schools that are involved. Basically, teachers set up an aquarium and incubate trout eggs in their classroom, under the guidance of a Trout in the Classroom coordinator (a TU member). Together, they ensure that all of the equipment has been purchased and is assembled early in the school year. The teacher and students are responsible for daily maintenance and observation of the eggs, while the coordinator is responsible for guidance and delivering the eggs and food. The final result is an aquarium full of trout fry that are released into a trout stream during a class field trip in late May to early June. Trout in the Classroom is an extremely rewarding program for everybody involved, whether student, teacher, or mentor. The program can be set up in one school or as collaboration with many different schools. Our goal is to have the program in at least one school in every town in the Thames Valley Chapter area. This can be achieved and can only be reached with continued support from TU members and others in the community.
Presently we have 14 schools enrolled in TIC. They are: Chaplin Elementary, Eastford Elementary, E.O. Smith Alternate High School (Storrs), Windham H.S. (Willimantic), C.H. Barrows STEM Academy (North Windham), Lisbon Central, Griswold Elementary, Killingly Intermediate, Nathan Hale-Ray (Moodus), Lyman Memorial High School (Lebanon), West Side Middle School (Groton), Lillie B. Haynes Elementary (Niantic), Wheeler M.S., (North Stonington), and Franklin Elementary.
How do I get involved? Get a teacher interested. Donate towards the cost of equipment. Become a mentor for a school near you. Share your knowledge of trout and their habitat by making a presentation to a school. These are a few of the possibilities.
TIC has a initial cost of about $1500 but maintenance is not expensive. The chiller is the most expensive item on the list, amounting to more than half the total needed for a set-up. Trout Unlimited Thames Valley Chapter is seeking Sponsors to finance our Trout in the Classroom Program.
If you would like to donate, mail a check to Trout Unlimited Chapter #282, PO Box 2181, Columbus, CT 06237.
Mark your check or include a note stating that the donation is for Trout in the Classroom. For more information on TIC contact Jim Valuckas -215-208-3873 - [email protected]
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Trout in the Classroom Egg Delivery January 7th, 2020
TVTU volunteers delivered the eggs and supplies to our Trout in the Classroom schools Tuesday, January 7th. Thank you to CT DEEP, Dave Parry, Charlie McCaughtry, John Preston and Gary Lussier for stepping up to make the deliveries. Our volunteers deliver to 13 schools from Griswold, Franklin, Lisbon, East Lyme, North Stonington, Windham, Lebanon, Eastford, Mansfield, Chaplin, and Willington. The photos show the delivery to at Lisbon Central Elementary school science teacher Stephen Brown who has been longtime support and advocate for the TIC program there. His eager students will be monitoring lifecycle of trout while learning about habitat and ecosystems. Also, a special “Thank You” to Stephen Brown and his classes (he teaches to several grades) for taking on an extra portion of 200 eggs (for a total of approximately 4000 eggs) due to an administrative glitch. I was amazed at the questions and answers from his student’s during half hour classroom discussion… quite advanced for I believe was a 3rd grade class.. |
Lisbon Middle School Trout In the Classroom (TIC) - Trout Release 2019
The looks on these kid's faces says it all! This is why we do this! |
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Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Trout Release - Niantic Center, East Lyme April 29, 2018
The planned release at Gordon Pond of 40 trout raised by the First Grade class of Diane Swan didn't go as expected. It seems that the Friday before the release on Sunday all the fry had died because of a yet to be determined cause. But to the credit of the class they did a herculean job to raise to 40 fry from the the initial 200 eggs provided. But Diane turned disappointment into a valuable lesson on how our environment can be impacted and the consequences of many factors (know & unknown) in the life-cycle of living organisms. Many of the children and some parents participated in leaning a little about fly casting. Interestingly they were mostly girls who took on the challenge of fly casting 8 1/2 foot fly rods at such young ages... all perform quite well. Please see the very nice article in The Day that covered the trout release. |
TIC - Westside Middle School, Groton, CT - Trout Release Slide Show
Devil's Hop Yard State Park - 7 May 2015 85 Westside Middle School students of TIC teacher Martha Parker released 128 trout that they had raised from 200 eggs they received in November 2014. You could see from the faces of the students there was mixed emotions of joy, pride and anxiety as they released their "babies" into the cool water of the Eight Mile River. Students later took part in some stream assessments with Patricia Young, Program Director of the Eight Mile River Watershed: a hike led by Rob Smith (former Park Manager) to the falls and nature trail; and, a little fly casting instruction from TVTU volunteers (Charley, McCaughtry, John Manfred & John Preston). |
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