Trout in the Classroom Program
in Frederick County

Submitted by Chuck Dinkel
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Volunteers from Potomac Valley Fly Fishers (PVFF) will support five Frederick County schools this school year with their Trout in the Classroom  (TIC) program.  In this program students are responsible for rearing trout eggs to fingerlings during the school year. The fish are released into DNR-approved Frederick County trout streams before the end of the school year.  Students learn about environmental and watershed issues in the process of raising the fish.

The newest school to participate in TIC is Lewistown Elementary.  A  $200 donation from PVFF will be provided to that school for purchase of TIC equipment and supplies. These funds are part of a conservation grant awarded to PVFF from the Federation of Fly Fishers to assist Frederick County schools join the program. Lewistown is the first elementary school to participate in Frederick County.  The four others are middle schools.  The significance of Lewistown Elementary is that this school features programs and classes for special-needs students. Teachers and students from Lewistown Elementary are very excited about participating in TIC. 

The February 2009 program of PVFF will feature teachers who are involved in TIC sharing their experiences and successes with the program.  We also plan to invite some students who participated in TIC several years ago to share what the experience has meant to them.  TIC is helping change students' attitudes not just about the environment and ecological issues, but their outlook on school as well.