In 2006, the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited secured a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Sportfishing and Aquatic Resources Education grant to develop TIC in Pennsylvania. Since then, the program has grown exponentially across the state!

Mountain Laurel Trout Unlimited is involved because it recognizes the value of such a program. As it has been said many times, TIC is not a stocking program, but one that supports coldwater conservation. While progress in restoration has been made, much work remains and stewardship is essential. Young people need to understand the problems facing our coldwater resources in order to create solutions and continue our work. Where better to do develop this understanding than in local classrooms with children who have seen “good” and “bad” streams?

Melissa Reckner, director of the Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, has taken the lead coordinating TIC projects in Somerset and Cambria County schools. She works with the dedicated teachers to expand upon the daily care and maintenance, for which the students are responsible, and to delve into topics like abandoned mine drainage, watersheds, wetlands, and macroinvertebrates. MLTU members often demonstrate the fine art of fly-tying in the classrooms and help with the release of surviving trout.

Approximately 250-300 trout eggs are shipped to participating schools in October or November, and they are put in a 55-gallon aquarium, complete with a filter and chiller for these coldwater fish. They soon hatch and begin morphing into recognizable brook trout. Brook trout are used for this project, since they are the only trout native to Pennsylvania streams.

Throughout the school year, students monitor the aquarium’s function and water quality, as well as the physical and behavioral characteristics of the trout. Students also feed the fish, clean the aquarium, maintain the equipment, and perform daily water changes. In the spring, surviving trout are released into a state-approved body of water. Sometimes it’s hard to say good-bye to those easily recognizable fish, like “Whopper,” “Big Mac,” and “Boomerang!”

Below is a list of schools involved in MLTU’s TIC projects.

North Star East Elementary School

MLTU and North Star were one of only six organizations to receive a grant from the PA Council of Trout Unlimited to implement TIC during its inaugural year (2006-2007) in Pennsylvania. MLTU provided the matching funds necessary and Ms. Eva Strang oversaw the project in her six-grade science classes. Since Ms. Strang’s retirement, Ms. Anne Baltzer has used the project to teach coldwater conservation. With the Stonycreek River adjacent school grounds, numerous “hands-on” activities take place throughout the school year, including regular trips for water to maintain the aquarium. This project has also been supported by the Jenner Rod & Gun Club, which has provided additional fish food, waders, and funds for a new chiller.

In 2008, the Somerset Conservation District sponsored and coordinated a project funded by MLTU to improve the access area to the Stonycreek River, located on school property, where the students sample for aquatic insects, gather water for their fish tanks, and release their trout.

Berlin-Brothersvalley High School

Upon the success of the program at North Star, MLTU and the Stream Team secured another grant for 2007-2008 from the PA Council of Trout Unlimited to start TIC in Mr. Dan Miller’s agricultural sciences classes at Berlin. The New Baltimore Sportsmen’s Club provided the required matching funds for the grant. Mr. Miller is expanding the school’s fish program and received funds to purchase a huge 500-gallon tub to prevent overcrowding in the smaller aquarium. It’s become tradition that after release of trout into the Stonycreek River at the Baltzer Bridge, students then go fishing at Lake Somerset courtesy a PA Fish and Boat Commission Family Fishing Program.

Forest Hills High School

As Mr. Brian Madison, a MLTU member, has engaged his students in fly-tying for years, implementing TIC at Forest Hills High School was a natural fit. During the 2008-2009 school year, he started to incorporate TIC into his curriculum, easily using TIC to demonstrate important environmental, chemical, and biological functions. The Beaverdale Sportsmen’s Club and Laurel Run Rod & Gun Club provided the matching funds for this project. Students release their trout into Laurel Run and conduct a stream study at the same time.

Shade-Central City High School

Shade decided it wished to pursue TIC in Ms. Marjorie Zubek’s science classes after grant applications to the PA Council of Trout Unlimited were due; therefore, Ms. Kathy Ross, an AmeriCorps member with the Dark Shade Brownfield Project and Shade Creek Watershed Association solicited funds to implement this project in the 2008-2009 school year. The Central City and Shade Sportsmen’s Clubs, Shade Creek Watershed Association, and Shade-Central City School District provided the funds to purchase all the necessary equipment and supplies. In the spring, students release their trout into Beaverdam Run on Shaffer Mountain. They then participate in Outdoor Discovery workshops organized by the Stream Team and finish the day fishing at the Central City Sportsmen’s Club pond.

Conemaugh Township Area High School

Another MLTU member and teacher, Mr. Michael Vranich, expressed interest in TIC, so Ms. Reckner applied for and received a grant to implement TIC at Conemaugh Township Area High School for the 2009-2010 school year. The Hollsopple VFW Post 8861 and an anonymous sportsmen’s club provided the required matching funds, while the Johnstown Sportsmen’s Club contributed towards educational programs related to TIC at Township. Mr. Vranich will house the TIC project in his shop class, so all science teachers may utilize it and supplement their curriculum. Mr. Jason Hazlett, a biology teacher at Township, will co-lead the project. Trout will be released into Bens Creek.

Penn Cambria High School

Mr. Ben Watt, a friend of Mr. Madison and a teacher at Penn Cambria, also expressed interest in TIC. Working with the Clearfield Creek Watershed Association, which provided matching funds, he secured a grant for the PA Council of TU and will execute the project during the 2009-2010 school year. Students will release their trout into Clearfield Creek.

In 2009, the Stream Team received a donation from the Stonycreek Conemaugh River Improvement Project (SCRIP) and a grant from Recreational Equipment Incorporation (REI) to support its work with all area TIC projects, for which we are grateful.

For more information on TIC:

www.troutintheclassroom.org

www.fish.state.pa.us/education/tic/tic_index.htm