One of our ongoing programs, Trout in the Classroom (TIC), has once again begun this year! This program provides classrooms with eyed rainbow trout eggs to rear in the classroom. Students are able to watch the trout develop, hatch and are even able to participate in releasing the fish into rainbow trout habitat. Teachers receive eggs in March and release fish 8 weeks later. In collaboration with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and local sponsor organizations, including SCMBAS and the City of Santa Cruz, we hosted a training session for 5 new incoming teachers and newly recruited coaches last weekend. Thanks to the organization of our TIC coordinator Megan Sabal, the workshop was fun and informative. Our own former president Katie Kobayashi educated teachers and coaches on rainbow and steelhead trout life history. In addition to helping teachers fill out permits and how to care for their fish successfully, the CDFW (TIC) team taught us fin-tastic trout themed activities! Check out pictures below.
If you are interested in getting involved in TIC as a teacher or coach next year, contact us at [email protected]
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- Teachers and coaches gather before playing a trout activity.
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- The steelhead life cycle begins in freshwater, just like rainbow trout, except they undergo a process called “smoltification” that allows them to migrate to the ocean. They eventually return to freshwater to begin the life cycle again.
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- Teachers test out some of the classroom materials provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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- Ethan from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife gives coaches and teachers a presentation explaining how Trout in the Classroom works and how they will care for their trout.
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- Katie Kobayashi’s introduction slide features an early picture of herself as a fishing enthusiast and a recent photo of her now, more into fish than ever.
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- Teachers and coaches play a fun game that simulates steelhead migrating to the ocean.