On May 3, the PA Council of Trout Unlimited announced nearly $18,000 has been awarded to educators across Pennsylvania through the PA Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Grant Program.

Funding will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to maintain existing Trout in the Classroom tanks and set up new ones, pay for transportation and other field trip expenses, and provide teachers with the materials and equipment they need to integrate the TIC curriculum into their classrooms.

Funding for these grants is provided by PATU and from the = Fish and Boat Commission  through an R3 Education Grant. In addition, Trout Unlimited chapters and other program partners across the state generously provide matching funds and classroom support.

Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom is a hands-on education program in which students raise rainbow trout from eggs to fry in classroom aquariums before releasing them into a PFBC-approved stream at the conclusion of the school year.

“This year looks like it’s going to be another great year for Trout in the Classroom,” said Rachel Kester, Program Director and TIC Coordinator for the PA Council of Trout Unlimited. “Interest in the program has really picked up again now that we are moving beyond the pandemic, with many new schools joining the program for this fall and existing schools resuming field trips and release day activities.”

The following schools and organizations will receive funding for the 2023-24 school year--

Adelphoi Educational School (Indiana) – startup equipment for new program

Allen Middle School (Camp Hill) – field trip support

Asbury Woods (Erie) – equipment and field trip support

Bear Creek Community Charter School (Bear Creek Township) – startup equipment for new program

Big Spring Middle School (Newville) – curriculum materials and field trip support

Bishop McCort Catholic High School (Johnstown) – field trip support

Bullskin Township Elementary School (Connellsville) – field trip support

California Area School District (Uniontown) – startup equipment for new program

Cameron County School District (Emporium) – startup equipment for new program

Cochranton Jr./Sr. High School (Cochranton) – program supplies

Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg) – field trip support

DuBois Area Middle School (DuBois) – field trip support

East Stroudsburg High School North (Dingmans Ferry) – program equipment

Fairfield Elementary School (Fairfield) – field trip support

Fairview Middle School (Fairview) – startup equipment for new program

Glendale School District (Flinton) – field trip support

Green Woods Charter School (Philadelphia) – program equipment and field trip support

Greenwood Elementary School (Kennett Square) – field trip support

Hereford Elementary (Hereford) – program supplies

Jersey Shore Area Senior High School (Jersey Shore) – field trip support

Juniata Valley/Blue Juniata FFA (Alexandria) – program equipment

Lincoln Elementary (Emmaus) – startup equipment for new program

Madonna Catholic Regional School (Monongahela) – startup equipment for new program

McDonald Elementary School (Warminster) – program equipment and curriculum materials

Northeast High School (Philadelphia) – program supplies

Northgate School District (Pittsburgh) – program equipment

Perkiomen Valley School District (Collegeville) – program equipment and field trip support

Port Allegany Elementary School (Port Allegany) – program supplies

Ridgway High School (Ridgway) – program equipment

River Valley Middle School (Blairsville) – program equipment and field trip support

Saint Catharine of Siena School (Reading) – field trip support

Schuylkill Haven Area High School (Schuylkill Haven) – field trip support

Smethport Area Jr Sr High School (Smethport) – program equipment and supplies

Southern Huntingdon County High School (Three Springs) – program equipment

Southmoreland High School (Alverton) – program equipment and supplies

Springfield Clifford N. Pritts Elementary (Normalville) – startup equipment for new program

Susquehannock High School (Glen Rock) – startup equipment for new program

Upper Moreland Middle School (Hatboro) – curriculum materials

Upper Perkiomen Middle School (Pennsburg) – field trip support

Wattsburg Area Middle School (Erie) – program equipment and field trip support

For more information about the program, visit the PA Trout in the Classroom webpage.

Visit the PA Council of Trout Unlimited website to learn more about programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved.  Click Here to sign up for regular Council updates.

(Photo: 3D printing of trout lifecycle Credit: Rachel Cahill.)

[Posted: May 3, 2023]

5/8/2023