Building Stronger Streams

Building Stronger Streams: Summer Trout in the Classroom Trainings Empower Educators and Volunteers Across Colorado

By Audrey Kenney, CTU Eastern Trout in the Classroom Coordinator

This summer, Colorado Trout Unlimited hosted three regional Trout in the Classroom (TIC) trainings, bringing together educators, chapter volunteers, and students to strengthen one of our most impactful youth education programs. Held in Denver, Clifton, and Monte Vista, these sessions not only prepared teachers for the upcoming school year but also helped deepen community connections. 

TIC empowers youth to explore coldwater conservation through hands-on learning, connecting classroom science to the outdoors. The TIC summer trainings are essential to ensuring educators feel confident and supported in delivering this experience. Each training built on the last, thanks to a fantastic team who continuously improved the sessions based on feedback and observation.

The team kicked off in June at CSU Spur in Denver, where educators from urban schools gathered to dive into foundational program elements. In July, they traveled to Clifton, where strong chapter support from the Western Slope helped expand hands-on activities like tank setup and water quality testing. August brought them to Monte Vista, where rural outreach and student involvement added a unique and inspiring dimension to the training. Students who’ve been deeply engaged in TIC attended and shared their experiences, reminding us why this work matters.

One of the most exciting aspects of this summer’s trainings was the incredible turnout from TU chapter volunteers. Their presence was not only helpful…it was essential. Chapters are the backbone of TIC, providing mentorship, resources, and local expertise. Seeing so many members show up to support educators was a powerful reminder that Colorado TU cannot do this work without them. Their commitment ensures that the next generation of conservationists is well-equipped and inspired.

Educators appreciated the expanded support systems introduced this year. As one seasoned TIC participant shared, “I feel this training was the best yet! With multiple avenues for help, such as help tickets, texting and email, the checklist, and the Google Classroom, I think there’s lots of avenues for help for new people in the program.”

Looking ahead, we’re already planning next summer’s trainings with a continued focus on educator support and chapter collaboration. We invite all chapters and interested educators to get involved, whether by attending a training, mentoring a classroom, or helping with trout releases.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made these trainings possible. Together, we’re building stronger streams, both in our watersheds and in our communities.

We invite chapters, volunteers, and educators to be part of this work. Whether it’s attending a training, mentoring a classroom, or joining us at a trout release, your involvement makes a lasting impact on students and stream health across Colorado. 

Interested in getting involved? Reach out to us at youth@coloradotu.org to learn more or sign up for upcoming opportunities. 

Connecting with the Community: Colorado Trout Unlimited Trout in the Classroom Program

The Colorado Trout Unlimited Trout in the Classroom program is more than just an educational initiative; it's a bridge that connects students, educators, and the broader community through a shared passion for aquatic ecosystems and trout conservation. One of the most impactful ways we foster this connection is through our release events, where students have the opportunity to release the trout they've raised into local waterways.

Engaging with the Community

Our release events are a celebration of learning and conservation, bringing together students from various schools to sites like the Carson Nature Center. These events are not just about releasing trout; they are enriched with additional programming that enhances the educational experience. For example, the Carson Nature Center features a portable water table that allows students to see how a river is formed and understand its effects on the local landscape. This hands-on activity helps students grasp the dynamic nature of rivers and the importance of maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.

Highlighting CSU Spur's Homeschool Event

A standout moment in our community engagement efforts was the recent trout release event hosted by CSU Spur. This event was particularly special as it connected us with a part of the community that doesn't have a traditional classroom setting—homeschoolers. CSU Spur's Water Education Coordinator, Stefan, led the event, where visitors helped release trout into the South Platte River behind the campus.

CSU Spur's event marked the first time they hosted a trout release on campus, making it an exciting milestone. The program aims to foster a deep appreciation for aquatic ecosystems and trout conservation among students, and releasing trout into the stretch of water by the campus was a thrilling experience for all involved. CSU Spur plans to continue these events, inviting more community members to join in future releases.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to grow and expand our Trout in the Classroom program, we remain committed to deepening our connections with the community. Future release events will continue to be inclusive, educational, and fun, providing opportunities for everyone to get involved and make a difference.

Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events and how you can participate in our efforts to conserve Colorado's aquatic ecosystems. Together, we can inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and ensure a healthy future for our trout and their habitats.

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.

Trout in the Classroom Update: The Trout Eggs Are Here!

By Natalie Flowers, CTU Youth Coordinator

It was a busy fall for Trout in the Classroom (TIC) in Colorado, as sites, chapters, and volunteers worked diligently to fundraise, purchase, and set up TIC equipment across the state. Trout Egg Delivery Days finally came on September 28th for 27 tanks across the state, then on October 25th, another 23 tanks received their shipment. Approximately 11,600 Rainbow Trout eggs from Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Crystal River Hatchery were transported and delivered successfully to these 50 TIC tanks.

John Davenport

John Davenport, CTU Statewide TIC Coordinator, arranged the Trout Express teams, recruited volunteers, and then pitched in as the rainbow trout eggs were transported across Colorado. CTU staff and volunteers then delivered the eggs to their specific schools. TIC educators, students, and volunteers took over by tempering the eggs so they would not experience shock and settled them into their new homes.

Once situated, educators and students began monitoring tank levels and surveying, supporting the growth of the fish. Most of the trout eggs hatched within 7 to 10 days after delivery, and some of the alevins began to swim in another 7 to 10 days.

This year, the TIC story has just started. Educators and students are eager to see how their fish will grow and will be monitoring their trout throughout the school year. Students will learn about the trout lifecycle, weigh their fish weekly, and maintain tank health. At the end of the school year for each school, students will celebrate a big day that culminates all their hard work – The TIC Trout Release Day.

CTU would like to give a special thank you to some amazing people and organizations that made our TIC Egg Delivery Days possible; John Davenport, John Covert, Ray Nagashima, John Bryant, David Nickum, Fred Miller, Madi Shaheen, Cory Neumiller, Michele White, Dennis Cook, Bret Linenfelser, Brendan Besetzny, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, A. Alfred Taubman Foundation, Rafael Levy Memorial Foundation, TIC educators, TIC chapter volunteers, TIC students, TIC volunteers, and all the other incredible Trout Express Delivery volunteers.

If you would like to support the Trout in the Classroom program or help fund any TIC sites that are currently on our waiting list please email Natalie Flowers, Youth Education Coordinator for CTU.

To learn more about the Trout in the Classroom program visit https://coloradotu.org/trout-in-the-classroom.

Trout in the Classroom: The Eggs have Arrived!

Trout in the classroom (TIC) is an environmental education experience that fosters hands-on learning through the rearing of trout from eggs to fry.  The program provides K-12 students meaningful opportunities to apply relative topics taught in the curriculum to the life cycles emerging before them, as well as to the variety of challenges that arise out of maintaining a steady state environment for the growing trout.  A General Overview...

While the Trout in the Classroom program has been adopted on a robust level in many states throughout the U.S., it is just beginning to emerge as a teaching tool for schools here in Colorado.  In 2016, Colorado TU supported five sites around the state.  In 2017, we expect that number to more than double, with TIC programs being adopted by teachers, TU chapters, and their local communities throughout the state.  The sites will range from elementary school classrooms to college science labs and can be found across Colorado –from the suburbs of Aurora, to the Grand Mesa on the Western Slope.

Trout in the Classroom offers a high degree of flexibility for teachers when it comes to applying trout life cycles to the core curriculum.  Lesson plans can be adapted to link learning objectives with “real world” outcomes.

For example, students at a site in Blackhawk, CO routinely help test the water quality of their tank; identifying potential issues (i.e. the water is becoming too acidic), using problem solving skills to propose solutions (add “x amount” of a certain chemical compound), and charting the results over time.  Is the health of the fish or pH improving?

Within any TIC activity, youth find themselves emboldened by opportunities to apply math and science concepts to actual problems, as well as receive the added social benefits of identifying challenges within their environment and taking concerted efforts to solve them.

"I like testing the water to help keep the fish alive," says one of the students in the Blackhawk classroom.

In short, TIC is not just helping to prepare the upcoming wave of engineers and scientists – it is also empowering the next generation of stewards.

To demonstrate the impacts that TIC is having in classrooms around the state, Colorado TU will be following the program in a handful of schools and providing regular updates from the field.

October-November: The Eggs Have Arrived!

At the time of this article (early November), there are currently four classrooms that have eggs in the water and several others that are in the process of setting up their equipment.  Once a site is ready, the rainbow trout eggs are shipped over night from the Ennis National Fish Hatchery in Montana and arrive at the classroom early the next day.  Teachers have been working closely with their students to carefully place the eggs in the tank and some are even starting to see them hatch now!

Profile: 5th Grade Science Class at Gilpin County School, Blackhawk, CO

Student: Avery Ramsey, 5th Grade

"Our trout program in Gilpin is really cool.  It is amazing to watch them grow.  We learned about each stage in a trout’s life, and now we actually get to see it!"

Teacher: Vanessa Grenader

"Trout in the classroom provides hands on, inquiry-based learning.  As a project based teacher, this program fits into my curriculum perfectly.  I am able to engage the students, and integrate the 5th grade science standards into the program seamlessly.  My students feel like real scientists as they learn.  Now, I can’t imagine a school year without our trout!"

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For more information on Trout in the Classroom, you can follow the links below, or contact Dan Omasta (domasta@tu.org) at Colorado TU.

Colorado TU TIC Program

National Trout in the Classroom Project