Here is a photo taken of the artwork of Bedwell Elementary School in Bernardsville by TIC teacher Jim McCarron.  I think I see some entries for the Pequest Hatchery’s annual trout stamp art contest!    

It’s been less than a week since the arrival of our eggs, and today we have noticed about 10 eggs hatched in each of our two vibert boxes. Students observed yolk sacs attached to the underside of the alevin.

I am pleased to announce that New Jersey’s TIC State Coordinator, Brian Cowden, was presented with the national Youth Leadership Award by Trout Unlimited at the TU national meeting in Boise, ID on  September 14th, 2007.  This award, the first of its kind "honoring individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a deep passion for inspiring young people to become thoughtful, responsible stewards of North America’s coldwater fisheries", was for Brian’s work with the Trout in the Classroom program in New Jersey.  This award encompasses the work done to bring New Jersey’s one TIC program prior to the 2006-’07 school year to over 25 schools last year and more than 50 for the current (2007-’08) school year as well as formulating the first ever state-wide approach by Trout Unlimited involving all 8 state chapters and for work done to build this website, another first of its kind in the nation.  

In Boise, Brian accepted this award on behalf of all TU volunteers involved with this great program as well as the New Jersey teachers that provide him with his continual motivation to build TIC throughout the state.  Cowden made special mention of his mentor and friend, Marilyn Steneken of the Sparta Middle School who will be entering her 12th year teaching TIC in the state and who continues to lead by example.  Marilyn is truly one of a kind!  Congratulations, Brian!    

If your school is planning to participate in TIC in September, you need to contact Brian Cowden, State Coordinator, to ensure enrollment.  This will help us to coordinate the delivery of eggs and food in late September or early October.  It will also allow Trout Unlimited and NJ Fish & Wildlife to provide additional volunteer help for a variety of programing and equipment and/or water quality trouble shooting throughout the school year.  Please email or call Brian at:    brianmag@optonline.net  or call on cell at 201-230-3383.  Thanks!  

As of this mid- May date, most schools have planned their trout releases into one of the many pre-approved year round trout water release locations.  In fact,  several schools have already done their releases and many more are scheduled during the next couple of weeks.  I have attended several releases already.  Here is a picture of NJ Trout Unlimited state council chair, Rick Axt, helping Gill St. Bernard’s Middle School to release their fish into the Peapack Brook which flows right through the school property - what a unique experience for those students!

We held three TIC workshops for newly interested teachers.  Workshops were given at current TIC schools in the northern, central and southern regions of New Jeresey during April and May.   With interest remaining high and new teachers in contact each week, there will most likely be a forth and possibly a fifth workshop in September, to be held at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Oxford, NJ off route 46.    Teacher’s certificates will be given to those in attendance.  This workshop will feature speakers Carole Skwarek from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Pequest Trout Hatchery as well as Brian Cowden, NJTU’s Trout in the Classroom Coordinator and one or more teachers that currently participate in TIC.  You will see a tank set-up from the current school year’s TIC program.   To attend one of the workshops or inquire about future workshops, please contact Brian Cowden at:  brianmag@optonline.net  or call 201-230-3383 (cell/best).

While TIC workshops are not mandatory for participation in this program, teachers do find them very helpful.   If you already teach TIC and wish to join us for a refresher course or to lend your support and comments/experiences, please do so - all are welcomed!  Stay tuned here for more TIC workshop dates and locations in the near future.