June 27, 2025 -- The Lackawanna County Conservation District wants to engage more Lackawanna County teachers in the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom program. 

Bailey White, the conservation district watershed specialist, said the Scranton School District STEMM program is a local participant in the project. The conservation district recently has reached out to other school districts.

Trout Unlimited partnered with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to create the program. It offers students in grades 3 through 12 the opportunity to learn about the lifecycle of trout and the importance of cold-water conservation.

Beginning in August, teachers set up tanks in their classrooms to prepare for the arrival of the trout. At the beginning of January, the teachers run through the program and double-check the equipment.  At the end of January, the school will receive trout eggs from the Fish and Boat Commission. The eggs will be within a few days of hatching, allowing students to begin observing promptly.  

After the fish hatch, the students witness the trout transform into sac fry, a term referring to the young trout.  As the fish swim freely and grow, they eventually will transform into fingerlings, allowing students to witness a profound transformation in real time. 

The program concludes with a field trip, during which the students will take the fish to an approved waterway and release them into the wild.  

The program's malleability makes it extremely educational and applicable, White said. Teachers can mold it to a curriculum that aligns with the grade and subject they teach. 

White said the district’s Watershed Improvement Program funds the project, making it an in-house, grant-funded program. The funding begins at $2,000, and the conservation district covers the cost, White said.

Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the life cycle of a local species, water quality, nutrients, and the importance of conservation.  Teachers who plan to utilize the program are required to participate in one training video. There also is an opportunity to attend an in-person training session in August. 

Any school interested in incorporating Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom into its curriculum may contact the Lackawanna County Conservation District at 570-382-3086 or email the district.

Schools must be registered for the program by Aug. 31. Teachers may register approvals and plans through the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom website.