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Written by NutmegTrout21711Feb, 2022

Learn how to help teach youths how to fish

Justin Wiggins of the DEEP CARE program with his son, Quinn.

As Nutmeg Trout Unlimited plans an initiative for an inner-city fishing program, we will welcome Justin Wiggins from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to talk about Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education and how we can introduce the next generation to angling and conservation.

Click here to join the online discussion Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend the virtual talk.

Nutmeg TU is going try to leverage our Trout In the Classroom program as a way to start, involving nine participating schools.

This past year, the CARE program launched a brand new, completely comprehensive online “Let’s Go Fishing” course. This course is the first of its kind in the country and moving forward will be used for all Introduction To Fishing courses by CARE Instructors and also available at https://depdata.ct.gov/fishing/gofishing/story.html

Wiggins received a bachelor’s in science from the University of Connecticut majoring in Natural Resource Management and Engineering, with an emphasis on fisheries management. He has spent my entire career in the fisheries management field beginning in 2001, holding seasonal fisheries technician jobs at the Connecticut DEP, University of Connecticut, North Carolina State University, and Yellowstone National Park. He has held his current position as with the DEEP Fisheries Division – Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program since 2007, currently serving as Program Coordinator.

The CARE program strives to create the next generation of anglers and environmental stewards by providing fishing education opportunities and instructor lead fishing trips. The CARE program recruits, trains, and manages volunteer fishing Instructors to accomplish this goal.

“My passions in life are fishing, hunting, and hiking,” Wiggins said. “I hunt everything from CT state land squirrels to Montana elk and fish for all species from local pond sunfish to spearfishing blackfish around Block Island. I am happily married to the love of my life, Kristen, and we have 3 young children together.”

Written by NutmegTrout21724Nov, 2017

Trout eggs delivered to TIC sites

On Friday, Nov 17, the Trout in the Classroom programs statewide received their eggs from the DEEP.

TIC coordinators gather at a commuter parking lot, where the DEEP distributes the eggs to each chapter.

The Nutmeg Chapter has 15 schools participating in this valuable educational tool. Hundreds of students throughout Nutmeg’s district are involved in raising Trout Eggs. Nutmeg TU covers the towns of Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton, Redding, Trumbull, Monroe, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford and Shelton.

Through hands-on activities, TIC uses an inter-disciplinary approach that adds to the the scientific concepts taught that directly impact the student’s lives and environment. This is an important program that is training the environmental stewards and leaders for the future

“The excitement in each classroom when the eggs arrive is unbelievable, like they were getting pizza delivered,” Nutmeg TU TIC Chairman Dave Edgeworth said.

Written by NutmegTrout21727Oct, 2016

Nutmeg TU Trout in the Classroom Program

Hello fellow trout enthusiasts, another fall is upon us and that means trout are spawning and eggs will be hatching. The Nutmeg Chapter’s TIC program is well under way with 16 schools participating this year. We have a wide diversity of grade levels and cities involved, from Kindergarten to 12^th graders with schools in Fairfield, Westport, Trumbull, Milford, Shelton, Stratford, Ansonia, and Monroe.

Last year well over 2000 fingerlings (Parr stage) brown trout were released into several of our local rivers. Even more important is the next generation of conservationists we are growing in our cities and suburbs.

If you know of any schools that would like to participate in this rich hands-on curriculum, please tell them about the TIC program and contact me, David Edgeworth at email Eggsofan@hotmail.com or cell 203 627-5817. Contributed by David Edgeworth on October 24^th 2016.

Written by NutmegTrout21702Jun, 2015

Trout in the Classroom Liberate Their Fish

Trout in the Classroom Programs Liberate Their Fish

Statewide schools participating in Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom program are releasing the trout they have raised in their classroom since the eggs hatched. The Brown Trout (eggs provided by the Kensington State Fish Hatchery) are being released to local rivers and streams. Students have spent many hours caring for and learning about the needs of Brown Trout. Good luck to all of the fry raised and released by these students. Contact CT Trout Unlimited for more information about the Trout in the Classroom program. Ed Albrecht is our state wide coordinator. And Dave Edgeworth is our Nutmeg TIC coordinator.

Written by NutmegTrout21701Mar, 2015

Working to save Kensington Hatchery

The Connecticut Council of Trout Unlimited is fighting to stop cuts in the budget proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that would eliminate Kensington Hatchery.

The following action alert was sent by the council:

This year’s proposed budget calls for the removal of $195,000 specified as the amount necessary to operate the Kensington Hatchery

The following are impacts of the loss of this hatchery:

Valuable genetic traits defining Connecticut River salmon will be lost forever.

Obtaining eggs for the Trout in the Classroom may be more difficult

The Salmon-in-Schools program, sponsored by the Connecticut River Salmon Association, would be terminated after this school year which would effect 60-70 schools.

Up to 7000 Atlantic Salmon fishing trips in Connecticut will be lost with the end of the brood stocking program.

The unique Seeforellen Brown trout will be lost to Connecticut anglers.

Click here for instructions on what you can tell your membership to do to help. You can copy and paste the information to your own website or in the body of an email (don’t forget the links!) or simply share the link on your Facebook Page, On Twitter, or in an email.

Also, Jim Glowienka will be at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to testify at the public hearing on Monday, March 2nd at 6:30. We encourage anyone who can to come and stand with TU on this issue.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: OPENING DAY OF TROUT SEASON WILL BE APRIL 11TH!

Alicea Charamut

Secretary, CT Council Trout Unlimited

President, Farmington Valley Trout Unlimited

Eggs for the 2014-15 Trout in the Classroom program have been delivered by Nutmeg TU volunteers.

Written by NutmegTrout21703Dec, 2014

Trout in the Classroom eggs delivered

Nutmeg TU TIC coordinator Dave Edgeworth reports that Trout In the Classroom had a very successful trout egg delivery day on Nov 18. Teachers and students were very excited to receive their eggs.

Several volunteers were on hand to make the drop-off to 16 schools across the Nutmeg Chapter region. Many thanks to our President Chuck Petruccelli, Joseph Lanese, and Gian Morresi for the time and effort on a cold and windy morning.

Every school received 200 brown trout eggs which will hatch, grow, and be released into local rivers in May.

Conjoined trout hatched for the Trout in the Classroom program Meadowside School in Milford.

Written by NutmegTrout21717Dec, 2013

Rare find in TIC hatch

The Trout in the Classroom program at Meadowside School in Milford, sponsored by Nutmeg TU, got a surprise when their eggs recently hatched.

Fifth grade teacher Jason Cicero sent this photo of conjoined fry to Gian-Andrea Morresi, TIC coordinator for the Nutmeg Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

“The fish are doing great but when I checked them yesterday I noticed something amazing and wanted to share it with you. We have conjoined twins in our nursery,” Cicero wrote. “I hope the picture comes across so you can see this, it’s amazing! “

“That is different,” DEEP biologist Neal Hagstrom wrote. “Usually you have them belly to belly and often one embryo will overgrow the second before they are this developed. Sometimes all that is left is an extra fin. Looks like completely separate digestive, neural and circulatory system. Neat shot.”

Trout in the Classroom is TU’s cornerstone environmental education program. Students learn about the importance of clean, cold water as they raise trout from eggs, ultimately releasing them into the wild.

Written by NutmegTrout21707Oct, 2013

Nutmeg TIC featured in column

Fishing columnist Martin Armstrong recently shared an account of a Trout in the Classroom event at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.

“This is fun! I caught six fish,” boasted a very happy Danielle Nichols as she reeled in her last fish from Bunnells Pond in Bridgeport.

Danielle, age 13, and 15 other students from Bridgeport’s Park City Prep and Bridge Academy are participants in the Beardsley Zoo’s Trout In The Classroom (TIC) program. Recently the students teamed up with the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program for a day of hands on learning and some fishing.

Click here to read Armstrong’s column.

Written by NutmegTrout21723May, 2013

Beardsley Zoo trout release May 31

Nutmeg members are invited to the Pequannock River in Beardsley Park Friday, May 31, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for the second annual trout release by Trout in the Classroom students at Interdistrict Discovery Magnet School.

Interdistrict Discovery Magnet School sixth graders have hooked up with Trout in the Classroom, an environmental education program, to connect students with Connecticut’s watersheds. The students raised trout from eggs to fingerlings, monitored and controlled tank water quality, engaged in stream habitat study and ecosystem understanding, learned to appreciate water resources, and have begun to foster a conservation ethic.

The program includes the trout release; macroinvertebrate collection and identification (if weather permits); and a celebration at Beardsley Zoo.