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Trout Unlimited

Trout in the Classroom

Trout in the Classroom is a year-long program in which a class raises trout or salmon from eggs supplied by a state hatchery, monitoring water chemistry and tank conditions until the fish are large enough to release into an approved local waterway. Now in its fourth decade and reaching more than 100,000 students a year, it gives a class a months-long, hands-on basis for collecting water-quality data.

Visit Trout in the Classroom ↗

What you will find there

  • Coldwater aquarium setup guidance and ongoing technical support for tank maintenance
  • State hatchery coordination to supply trout or salmon eggs
  • 39-plus STEM lesson plans connecting the tank to water chemistry and local watershed science
  • Field day activities and a release event at an approved local waterway
  • A national network of local Trout Unlimited chapters and coordinators who support classrooms

Our take

Students collect water-quality data from a living tank over several months, and local Trout Unlimited volunteers often help with setup and the release day; the tank itself is a real ongoing commitment, so this fits a teacher ready for a year-long project rather than a single unit.

Pairs well with our materials