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Trout Unlimited Partnership Brings Hands-on Environmental Program to Classrooms

April 6th, 2016

Trout Unlimited Mid-Atlantic Council is partnering with the Howard County Public School Systemto connect students to the system of streams, rivers and watersheds that sustain them. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing Thursday, April 7 at Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Trout Unlimited will collaborate with HCPSS staff members to implement the Trout in the Classroom environmental program for grades 4–12. The program will teach students to raise trout from eggs to fry, conduct stream habitat studies and learn about the ecosystems.

Trout Unlimited will supply trout eggs and food, develop a training manual with best practices and provide technical support to classroom teachers. This partnership is aligned with Vision 2018 strategies to engage students in the learning process and embeds the development of creativity, innovation, problem solving and critical thinking into the instructional program.

Howard County Board of Education Member Sandra French, HCPSS Elementary Science Coordinator Amy Reese, Secondary Science Coordinator Mary Weller, Hammond High School Science Instructional Team Leader Cherilyn Brown, and Science Teacher Annette Kelly will join Trout Unlimited Mid-Atlantic Board Member Jim Tingey, Trout in the Classroom Founder Jim Greene, and Co-Chairs Alan Burrows and Chuck Dinkel to sign the formal partnership agreement at the April 7 event.

Trout Unlimited is the nation’s largest coldwater conservation organization, with 147,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. The Mid-Atlantic Council is composed of seven Maryland chapters. Trout in the Classroom is a conservation-oriented, environmental education program that connects students to their local watershed.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office unites businesses and community organizations with schools to enhance the educational experience. Partnerships benefit schools, businesses, and the entire community by leveraging the resources of all participants. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support.

For more information, contact Partnerships Office Manager Mary Schiller at 410-313-6655 or mary_schiller@hcpss.org.