Trout in the Classroom

As a part of our environmental science curriculum, SPFHS will be participating in a New Jersey Fish and Wildlife program known as Trout in the Classroom (TIC). TIC is an environmental education program that connects students with their watershed and serves as a gateway stewardship experience for students, fostering a new generation of wildlife advocates and environmental stewards. 

The program begins by assembling the 55 gallon aquarium system we will use to host hundreds of trout eggs. Once a healthy ecosystem is established for the trout, 300 eggs arrive from the Pequest Trout Hatchery and the months-long process begins by monitoring tank conditions so that a percentage of the sensitive trout eggs survive.

Over the course of the next few months, students witness the trout life cycle and as their trout grow, so does their care for the trout and their environment. This care translates into a deep understanding and connection to the watershed systems on which all life depends. The program culminates with a field trip to Seeley’s Pond in Watchung Reservation, where students release their fish into a state-approved location.