Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Natalie Flowers

STREAM Keepers at Walking Mountain in Avon, CO

On June 3rd, CTU joined Walking Mountain Science Center in hosting a STREAM Keepers program for over 15 participants. These fantastic families overcame rain and activity changes with smiles on their faces and curiosity to explore. We learned about macroinvertebrates and watershed ecosystems, we got to build a bug, and we even got to tie some flies! We even got to see some mayflies hatch out into adults!

Thank you to all the participants for coming out and being flexible and adaptable. Thank you also to our amazing volunteers Dave, Sherry, Mark, and Nick, and thank you, Patricia and Walking Mountain, for partnering with us for this incredible program! We can’t wait to come back!

Learn more about the CTU STREAM Keepers program here.

Trout in the Classroom Trout Releases!

Spring is here and with it comes Trout in the Classroom release events!

So far 23 sites have released 1000 rainbow trout into Colorado waters. We have 20 more release events to go! Below is a short video of the fun we are having!

Click here for more information about the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program in Colorado and if you would like to help fund and support a TIC tank/program, please contact Natalie Flowers at natalie.flowers@tu.org

CTU Youth Programs Update

First off, thank you to everyone who donated and supported CTU Youth during our Colorado Gives Day campaign! We accomplished our goal and then some, for a grand total of $7,675! Thank also to Barbara Luneau and Mark Rayman for offering a matching incentive and helping to double our donor’s donations by $2,500.

2023 is looking bright for CTU’s Headwaters Programs. We are beginning to plan out our 2023 STREAM
Girls and STREAM Keepers schedule. If you are interested in offering a STREAM Girls or STREAM Keepers program in 2023 fill out the forms below.

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is looking forward to 2023, as well. We will be installing a new TIC Community Tank at the CSU Spur Hydro Building in late December or early January. We hope to have the tank working and fish swimming by the time The National Western Stock Show is running. If you are going to the Stock Show be sure to visit the new CSU Spur Hydro Building and TIC Community Tank on the second floor.

We are excited to announce our 2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp will be June 11 - 17, 2023. Registration is now open for Camper applications and Camp Counselor applications. Visit our Camp website for more information.

Want to help CTU’s 2023 River Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp? Below are some great ways to show your support.

Thank you for all the support in 2022. We can’t wait to continue fostering the next generation of conservations and anglers in 2023!

If you would like to increase your impact, please contact Natalie Flowers and/or visit our Supporting CTU Youth page to see our greatest needs, sponsorship opportunities, and more.

Trout in the Classroom 2.0 Updates!

Photos by Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is ramping up for an incredible year!

This year we have doubled our TIC sites from 28 sites in May to over 50 sites! Not only will we have more TIC sites this year, but below are some amazing changes and updates that will greatly enhance the 2022/23 Trout in the Classroom program!

TIC Testing Update:

We are thrilled to announce some BIG news for the Trout in the Classroom program! Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reviewed their regulations and are now able to grant TIC sites a testing exemption if they adhere to the following requirements.

  1. ALL TIC tank(s) must be filled with ONLY publicly treated water.

  2. ALL water that leaves a TIC tank(s) must be sent ONLY to a public treatment facility.

  3. Absolutely NO outside water, rocks, and/or species may be added to the TIC tanks.

  4. Releasing of TIC Fish ONLY at pre-approved locations, dates, and times.

This exemption will help make the Trout in the Classroom more successful, more streamlined, more flexible and adaptable, and more equitable to TIC sites across Colorado. We are very thankful to CPW for all their hard work and dedication to improving this program and helping to make it a success!

TIC Monthly Professional Development Trainings:

We are excited to offer monthly TIC Professional Development trainings to our TIC Educators, Volunteers, and Members. Each training will be the 2nd Monday of the month (unless stated otherwise) from 6:30 - 7:30 pm (Sept. - May) and will include a 30-45 mins PD presentation and 15-30 mins for questions, TIC conversations, and troubleshooting. Visit our CTU Calendar for more information.

New Statewide TIC Coordinator and TIC Resources:

CTU has been working hard to streamline the TIC program and support the growth and sustainability of the program. We are thrilled to have John Davenport as our new Statewide TIC Coordinator and to have a new Google Drive Folder full of updated resources and TIC guides for TIC sites and volunteers to use. Click here to view our 2022/23 TIC Resources and Guides.

TIC Training:

On Aug. 15th we kicked off our Trout in the Classroom year with a big training. This training is full of great updates, tank information, and TIC information. Check it out!

For more information about the Trout in the Classroom feel free to contact us at TIC@coloradotu.org or visit our Trout in the Classroom website.

STREAM Keepers Event at The Nature Connection in Delta, CO

Colorado Trout Unlimited had a blast last week exploring nature with kids from The Nature Connection, a Generation Wild Community in Delta, CO! First, we caught macroinvertebrates, including over a dozen crawdads, out of the Gunnison River and Confluence Park! We learned what makes up a healthy Stream Ecosystem and found those elements during a scavenger hunt. Lastly, all the kids got a chance to catch an elusive Lawntrout and cast a line or two for some real trout as well! We are so thankful for our partners at The Nature Connection for collaborating and helping to support this event with their amazing counselors and staff!

CTU's River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp

This year was an blast at CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp! Twenty-two teens attended our camp this summer and learned about CTU conservation projects, invasive species, fly fishing skills and ethics, fly tying, macroinvertebrates and much much more! We went fly fishing, participated in electroshocking, planted willows, and visited Roaring Judy Hatchery!

Below are some pictures of the fun we had!

We want to give a HUGE shout out to our volunteer Camp Staff, Counselors, and Directors! Thank you for making this camp possible!

Trout in the Classroom Trout Releases

We are thrilled to celebrate another successful Trout in the Classroom program year! Students, Teachers, and TIC Volunteers Leaders have worked hard all school year to raise Rainbow Trout in their classrooms, libraries, schools, and organizations. They have learned about the Trout lifecycle, monitored tank water quality, learned about pathogens that could effect fish health, and made new connections with their local watersheds. Many of the schools celebrated with a Trout Release Event where CTU and other amazing TIC partners came together to celebrate watersheds, macroinvertebrates, and all things fishy! Here are some picture of the fun we had!