I’ve been going through everyone’s wish lists and just wanted to go over some of the requests, most of which I can’t fulfill (wish I could), but can steer you in the right direction…
1. Books for classroom - there is a booklist on our site, http://www.njtroutintheclassroom.org under the Resources tab.
2. Posters/charts - I lost my printing budget, but have hopes of eventually getting life cycle posters to everyone - it just might not happen this year.
3. DVD or video of life cycle - I don’t know of any out there specifically for the life cycle, but these two dvds are phenomenal and Ozzie (the videographer/producer) is a good friend and one of TU’s TIC coordinators - The Underwater World of Trout Volume 1: Discovery and The Underwater World of Trout Volume 2: Feeding Lies. Both of these are available on Amazon.com
4. Larger tank - not happening from my end - I have no budget, same as you!
5. An extra tank - see #4
6. Transporting aerator - again, I have no budget, but don’t be afraid to ask your TU TIC coordinator for help on release day.
7. Chemicals - that’s part of the $50 you need to spend every year.
8. Replacement Filter cartridges - see #7
9. Hoses - see #7
10. Gravel - This is a new addition to our equipment list from last year. Its not necessary but a great place for bacteria to grow which we need in our tanks.
11. Chiller with inaccurate temperatures (not a wish item, just a problem!) - chiller thermometers are never accurate which is why we have you order a digital thermometer and a floating thermometer for your tanks.
12. Help setting up tank - detailed instructions are on our site, http://www.njtroutintheclassroom.org
13. Trout handouts for public/display - no budget for these - I wish there were - I can’t even have these for handouts at the trout hatchery :(
14. Higher Level Material - for now, we just have the one activity guide, however, work will begin on an elementary and high school level now that the science standards have been released.
15. Stress-zyme - see #7
16. Battery back up for tank - I still don’t have a budget!
17. Troubleshooting guide - you get this in your TIC kit which is dropped off on egg day and its on the site at http://www.njtroutintheclassroom.org and in your activity guide
18. Weekly reminders - see #17
19. Bulk chiller orders - I can’t even order one!
20. Extra food - see your feeding guidelines, there’s a very high chance that you are overfeeding. If you run out, get extra food from a local pet store.
21. New breeder net - order one from That Fish Place or your local pet store.
22. Tank stand - If you have a woodworking shop in your school, its a great opportunity to be more cross-curricular!
23. Additional Vibert boxes - we only give these to new teachers
24. Eggs (and lots of them) - each tank will get the appropriate number of eggs for the size of the tank.
25. Brian Cowden for eggs and onion sacks - he’s a busy man, but may be available on request.
26. New ideas and lessons - now this I hope I can do, and if anyone has some great ideas that they want to share, I can email them around.
27. Fish food - comes in your kit that will be dropped off on egg day.
28. Testing chemicals - you should have ordered these when you ordered your equipment.
29. Water treatment materials - again, these should have come with your equipment order.
30. Inexpensive science journals - spiral bound notebooks work great as journals!
31. New chiller tubing - contact the chiller manufacturer.
32. Guest speaker talking about why students in TIC help the environment - contact your TU TIC rep - they want to come in and help!
33. More time - not something I can help with - sorry!
34. Black sponge for uptake filter - get at a local pet store.
35. Support for trouble shooting - that’s what I’m here for, as well as the TU TIC reps
36. What to do on vacations - is in your activity guide as well as in the kit that will be delivered on egg day.
37. Auto-feeders - a big no, no! We had a teacher use one, the power went off, the fish jumped to get food, knocked the feeder into the tank, power came back on and bye-bye fishies!
38. Multimedia Items - I wish I had the budget for magazines, posters, stickers, videos, fish id cards, etc.
39. Make sure the people who deliver eggs know about the eggs - Each volunteer on egg day is told how old the eggs are and at what temp they are kept at. I also send an email out on egg day with all the same info so you can calculate the hatch date.
40. Info on release sites - its on the site http://www.njtroutintheclassroom.org under Resources and will be emailed to you when it is time to fill out the release permit applications.
41. Assembly - There are several water related programs that you will find out about throughout the year as possible guest speakers at the school.
