Trout in the Classroom Biggest Release Year Yet!

Over 45 Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Sites have released the rainbow trout, they raised since October, into local watersheds. This year we had over 60 sites/schools participate in the TIC program, and thus far 2,865 trout have been released. We still have a few more schools set to release, but overall, the program has been a huge success and our biggest year yet.

Some schools even made the local news and made videos of their TIC Release Events!

Ute Pass Elementary TIC Release Event

Shepardson STEM Elementary TIC Release video.

We are excited to announce some additional capacity and training that will be added to the 2024/25 TIC Program. This summer we will be offering three (possibly more) TIC trainings for educators and TU Chapter Coordinators/Volunteers. Check out our dates and events below.

• July 22, 2024 - Western Slope TIC Training in Grand Junction

• July 27, 2024 - Front Range TIC Training in Denver

• Aug 3, 2024 - 2nd Front Range TIC Training in Denver

Charles Hay Wood TIC Release Event

Grand River Academy TIC Release Event

Outdoor Wilderness Lab TIC Release Event

To help with this training we have hired a part-time seasonal employee (who will be starting in late May/early June) and we will be hiring two part-time TIC Seasonal Coordinators (one from the Front Range and one for the Western Slope). These new TIC Coordinators will help coordinate the TIC program during the school year, support our TIC Sites and Educators, and connect the program more with CTU, TU, and TU Chapters.

AvidMax's Coffee Break Features CTU Camp

Coffee Break is an ongoing series at AvidMax where they talk about fly fishing, which sometimes includes supporting local fishing communities. In this episode, Noah sits down with TU member Barbara Luneau to learn more about the annual youth event, Camp, hosted by CTU. Camp is an amazing event for high school students that takes place here in Colorado and aims to teach students conservation and fly fishing. If you are interested in helping support the event or know a student between the ages of 14-18 interested in attending, please visit the CTU Camp Webpage.

We would like to thank AvidMax for their continued support of Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Trout in the Classroom Eggs Have Hatched!

We are thrilled to announce that 65 TIC tanks across Colorado received Rainbow Trout eggs, donated by CPW’s Crystal River Hatchery, in late October. These eggs have now hatched and are in their alevin stage! Check out some of our outstanding TIC Sites and Students as they celebrate this incredible program!

Video from Estes Park Elementary School

Video from the Academy of Charter Schools

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We need your help to support the Trout in the Classroom program across the state of Colorado.

Learn About Our New CTU STREAM Program Opportunities

We are excited to expand our STREAM Program offerings into a spectrum of river conservation, outdoor exploration, and angling STREAM programs. Traditionally CTU has been successful in hosting several STREAM Girl and STREAM Keeper program and we now have the ability to expand, adapt, and create unique STREAM programs to fit your TU Chapter area, Partner Organization, age demographic, diverse audience, and community. Check out our updated web pages below and our new program resources page.

We are also offering a STREAM Programs Rendezvous session on Saturday, Oct. 21st at 4 pm in Glenwood Springs on the Colorado River! Click here for more information about this session and others at our upcoming CTU Rendezvous.

CTU STREAM Girls Opportunities September 9th & 10th

Colorado Trout Unlimited and the Cutthroat Chapter are excited to host a STREAM Girls 1.0 and STREAM Girls 2.0 this weekend at the Kassler Center and Lake Lehow in Littleton! We still have 10 slots available for our STREAM Girls 1.0 on Saturday, Sept. 9th from 8 am - 5 pm at the Kassler Center and 7 slots available for STREAM Girls 2.0 on Sunday, Sept. 10th from 10 am - 2 pm. 

 STREAM Girls is an outdoor watershed experience that employs STEM-education (science, technology, engineering, math) plus recreation and arts to explore a local stream.  By visiting a local stream and having the opportunity to observe it as scientists, anglers, and artists, Girl in the 4th through 8th grade will get the complete picture of what their stream could mean to them.

 STREAM Girls 1.0 is a full day program which includes local stream exploration, collecting flow data, sampling macroinvertebrates, tying flies, and learning fly casting. If you aren't a Girl Scout no worries -- you can join in the fun too. Please note STREAM Girls 1.0 does not include fly fishing due to our limited time, that comes in STREAM Girls 2.0.

 STREAM Girls 2.0 is a half day program which builds upon their already learned casting skills and grow into confident anglers and river conservationists. It is highly recommended that you have already taken STREAM Girls 1.0 before enrolling in this event.

STREAM Keepers Program Has a Busy July and August

STREAM Keepers at Lincoln Hills Cares in Black Hawk, CO, The Nature Connection in Delta, CO, and Hotchkiss, CO

By Lauren Hacke - 2023 Colorado Trout Unlimited Intern

Colorado Trout Unlimited had a great time with kids exploring our rivers and streams in Black Hawk, Delta, and Hotchkiss in July and August! CTU joined Lincoln Hills Cares, Sun Valley Youth, and The Nature Connection in hosting STREAM Keepers for dozens of kids to teach them about fly fishing and what makes a healthy stream.

CTU headed to Black Hawk on July 28th to learn about watershed ecosystems, fly-tying, casting, and fly-fishing with the kids of Sun Valley Youth at Lincoln Hills Cares. The kids investigated macroinvertebrates in Lincoln Hills Cares’ creeks and found mayflies, caddisflies, water striders, and more! Then, CTU volunteers taught the kids how to tie flies, and all of the kids got a fly to take home. The kids also practiced casting with Lawntrout to prepare to fish in the ponds. A few kids caught trout and learned how to release their trout!

CTU partnered with The Nature Connection for a STREAM Keepers program in Delta on August 1st and Hotchkiss on August 2nd. First, the kids evaluated how healthy or polluted the Gunnison River was at Confluence Park and the Delta Fairgrounds based on the macroinvertebrates they found. We found plenty of crayfish! The kids used their knowledge of macroinvertebrates to build their own bugs with crafting supplies. Then, the kids learned how to cast fly rods with Lawntrout!

Thank you to Ray, Dan, Andy, and Scott for volunteering and all the Lincoln Hills Cares and Sun Valley Youth staff for collaborating and helping with STREAM Keepers in Black Hawk! Thank you to our volunteer David and our partners at The Nature Connection for supporting STREAM Keepers with their counselors and staff!

If you would like to learn more about our STREAM Keepers programs click here to visit our website.

2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp - Building Leaders While Building Leaders

This year’s CTU River Conservation & Fly Fishing (RCFF) Camp was June 11th - 17th in Almont, CO, and was a huge success! After receiving several camp counselor applications (from 2022 campers and returning Junior Counselors) as well as new camper applications, we had the excellent idea to not only accept 20 awesome campers but also accept 12 Junior Camp Counselors at this year’s RCFF Camp!

Each of these Junior Counselors had already completed camp. This year, they had the opportunity to build up their leadership, teamwork, and angling skills as they helped lead small groups, guided campers, and helped the Seasoned Counselors keep camp organized.

This morphed beautifully into incredible relationships between our Campers, Junior Counselors, and Seasoned Counselors. Seasoned Counselors introduced discussion topics, while Junior Counselors led small groups of interested Campers. Campers received one-on-one tips from leading Seasoned and Junior Counselors as they fished, tied flies, designed posters, and even learned how to build their own fishing leaders!

Campers grew in their angling skills and confidence throughout the week, and Junior Counselors grew in their leadership skills. This leadership model for CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp helped streamline some of the organizational parts of the camp. Still, it also allowed us as an organization to promote our ‘Stream of Engagement’ model for the CTU Headwaters Youth Programs. Through this program delivery model, we strive to engage new participants in our Youth Programs and ensure that people of any age can "plugin" to TU and continue their relationship with coldwater conservation and fly fishing through various age-appropriate opportunities and programs.

CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp is not only teaching how to build fishing leaders but also building leaders within Trout Unlimited and fostering the next generation of river conservationists and anglers! Thank you to all the Camp Counselors, Volunteers, Campers, and Camp Supporters! We could not do this without you!

STREAM Girls & STREAM Keepers Volunteer Opportunities

CTU has some awesome STREAM Keeper and STREAM Girl events and volunteer opportunities!  We are needing fly tiers, fly casters, fly fishers, macroinvertebrate lovers, and helpful volunteers to support these kids, families, and STREAM programs!  To sum it all up....WE NEED YOU!

Event Dates

STREAM Keepers

• Date/Times/Locations:

  • 6/03/23 - 10:30 am - 3:00 pm - Walking Mountain - Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement - 318 Walking Mountains Lane, Avon

  • 6/28/23 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Lincoln Hills Cares - 655 Pactolus Lake Rd, Black Hawk, CO 80422

  • 8/1/23 - 9:30 am - 1:30 pm - The Nature Connection - Confluence Park in Delta: 531 Palmer St, Delta, CO 81416

  • 8/1/23 - 9:30 am - 1:30 pm - The Nature Connection - Delta Fairgrounds, 403 Fair Grounds, Hotchkiss, CO 81419

STREAM Girls 

• Date/Time/Locations:

  • STREAM Girl 1.0 Dates and Locations

    • 8/19/23 – Hubbard Cabin, Routt Co Road 18, Steamboat Springs, CO

    • 9/9/2023 - Kassler Center & Waterton Canyon, 11338 Waterton Rd, Littleton, CO 80125

    • 9/16/23 - CSU Environmental Learning Center, Natural Resources Building, #223, Fort Collins, CO 80523

  • STREAM Girl 2.0 Dates and Locations

    • 9/10/23 – Lake Lehow, 11250 Waterton Rd., Littleton CO

  • STREAM Girl Day Camp Dates and Locations

    • 7/25/23 - Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014

    • 7/26/23 - Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014

    • 7/27/23 - Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014

Event Description:

STREAM Keepers Description: Join Colorado Trout Unlimited, local Chapters, and local Organizations for STREAM Keepers.  Kids and Families will participate in a variety of activities which might include, stream observation, sampling macroinvertebrates, tying flies, learning fly casting, and fishing at a local stream.  

Volunteer Needs: 

• Fly tying

• Fly Casting

• Macroinvertebrates

• Fly fishing

STREAM Girls 1.0 Description: Join Colorado Trout Unlimited and Girls Scouts of Colorado for STREAM Girls and learn about your local watershed!   This full day program intended for girls from 4th – 8th grades, empowers girls to explore a local stream, collect flow data, sample macroinvertebrates, tie flies, and learn fly casting. Sign up as an individual or a whole troop and if you aren't a Girl Scout no worries -- you can join in the fun too. Please note STREAM Girls 1.0 does not include fly fishing due to our limited time, that comes in STREAM Girls 2.0.  

Volunteer Needs: 

• 7:30 am - 5:00 pm:

  • Event Leader Volunteer (2 needed)

• 7:30 am - 12:00 pm:

  • STREAM Walk & Macroinvertebrate Volunteer (4 needed)

  • STREAM Walk & Go With The Flow Volunteer (4 needed)

  • Photographer (1 needed)

• 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm:

  • Fly Tying & Stream Scavenger Hunt (4 needed)

  • Fly Casting & Stream Scavenger Hunt (4 needed)

  • Photographer (1 needed)

STREAM Girls 2.0 Description: This half-day program, intended for girl’s 5th grade or older, empowers novice anglers to build upon their already learned casting skills and grow into confident anglers and river conservationists. It is highly recommended that you have already taken STREAM Girls 1.0 before enrolling in this event.

Volunteer Needs: 

• 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

  • Event Leader Volunteer (2 needed)

  • Support Volunteer - Knots, Fly Casting, & Fly Fishing (8 needed)

  • Photographer (2 needed)

STREAM Girls Day Camp Description: We will be offering STREAM programming for Girl Scout Day Camp at Cherry Creek State Park this summer!  Join us as we teach 50 Girl Scout campers about river conservation and explore the Cherry Creek watershed!

Volunteer Needs: 

• 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

  • Event Leader Volunteer (2 needed)

  • Support Volunteer (4 - 10 needed)

  • Photographer (2 needed)

Volunteer capacity for each event is limited. Please be sure to register ASAP, if you are interested in supporting these impactful events. Thank you to those of you who have already signed up!

For more information, contact Natalie Flowers at natalie.flowers@tu.org

New TIC Community Tank at the CSU Spur Hydro Building

Attending the National Western Stock Show in Denver this month? Then you can come see our new Trout In The Classroom (TIC) Community Tank at the CSU Spur Hydro building. Located at 4817 National Western Dr, Denver, CO 80216, the Hydro building is the newest addition to the CSU Spur campus.

Our Community Tank, with the help of the Denver Trout Unlimited Chapter, currently holds three-month old trout who are actively feeding, swimming, and growing. Come learn more about Trout In The Classroom and the other amazing programs and opportunities the CSU Spur has to offer!

CTU will have a table next to the tank on Saturday, January 14th for CSU Spur Day at the Stock Show and Monday, January 16th for Martin Luther King Day.

CTU Youth Programs Update

First off, thank you to everyone who donated and supported CTU Youth during our Colorado Gives Day campaign! We accomplished our goal and then some, for a grand total of $7,675! Thank also to Barbara Luneau and Mark Rayman for offering a matching incentive and helping to double our donor’s donations by $2,500.

2023 is looking bright for CTU’s Headwaters Programs. We are beginning to plan out our 2023 STREAM
Girls and STREAM Keepers schedule. If you are interested in offering a STREAM Girls or STREAM Keepers program in 2023 fill out the forms below.

• 2023 STREAM Girls Inquiry Form

• 2023 STREAM Keepers Inquiry Form

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Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is looking forward to 2023, as well. We will be installing a new TIC Community Tank at the CSU Spur Hydro Building in late December or early January. We hope to have the tank working and fish swimming by the time The National Western Stock Show is running. If you are going to the Stock Show be sure to visit the new CSU Spur Hydro Building and TIC Community Tank on the second floor.

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We are excited to announce our 2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp will be June 11 - 17, 2023. Registration is now open for Camper applications and Camp Counselor applications. Visit our Camp website for more information.

Want to help CTU’s 2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp? Below are some great ways to show your support.

• Help us spread the word!

  • Download and share our 2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp Flyer.

• Sponsor a Camper!

  • Camp Registration is $600 per camper. If you would like to sponsor a camper please email Barbara Luneau or Natalie Flowers.

• Volunteer!

  • Camp Counselor applications are now open. Click here to apply to be a CTU Camp Counselor.

Thank you for all the support in 2022. We can’t wait to continue fostering the next generation of conservations and anglers in 2023!

If you would like to increase your impact, please contact Natalie Flowers and/or visit our Supporting CTU Youth page to see our greatest needs, sponsorship opportunities, and more.