Ithaca College

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a science-enrichment program developed by Trout Unlimited that places cold-water aquarium systems in seventeen schools through Tompkins County. Participating classes receive trout eggs in the fall, raise them during the school year, and release them into a nearby stream in May.

Mentors are crucial to many parts of the program. They assist in the classes that help youth understand stream habitat, water chemistry, how to monitor the aquariums, and other principles of biology. Perhaps most importantly, volunteers are there to help youth develop a sense of why we should steward and conserve cold water environments. 

Volunteers do not need a strong background in any one field of science. The biggest qualification is a desire  to help youth discover why clean water and healthy fish matter in our ecosystems.  

Email Don Austin, Assistant Director of Community Service, at austin@ithaca.edu for more information about getting involved with Trout in the Classroom

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Don Austin at austin@ithaca.edu. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.