With spring in full swing it’s time to get outside. All over the country, small fingerling trout and salmon smolts are leaving classrooms in the hands of their student caretakers and heading to local rivers and streams via TU’s Trout in the Classroom and Salmon in the Classroom programs.
Now is the time for other outdoor education events, as well. TU chapters and councils are planning spring fishing days, Scouts are scouting and classes are going outside on field trips. This is a great opportunity to coordinate a kids or family event for your chapter.
Not sure you want to coordinate a whole event? Find a partner. School clubs and after-school organizations are always looking for ways to get out and explore and it’s mutually beneficial to partner with one of them. Look around your community and ask about fishing clubs, too. Everyone wants kids to be outside, to learn, to play, to engage in science, to be an artist, to learn a life sport.
Need ideas for what to do? Check out the training How to Plan a Youth Event on TU’s Vimeo Channel. The Trout in the Classroom website has a great trout-related field activities section. Look there for scientific investigations, journal prompts, art projects, fun learning games, and more. Or just take kids fishing. What could be better than that?
Don’t forget that you can sign up youth members at a bulk rate of $8 per membership if six or more people join at one time. Contact me at tgranke@tu.org to get the required information.
Trout Camps and Conservation Academies are also a great way to engage youth in the outdoors and there’s a wide range of camp locations to choose from across the country. Check out the Camps and Academies webpage for more information. Camps that happen earlier in the spring may already be full but there are opportunities all over the country! Contact the director listed for more information.