Volunteer Spotlight January 2025: Trout in the Classroom
By Amber Taylor, Education Manager
As Trout in the Classroom students returned to school last week, the tiny alevin, or sac fry, that had been flopping around awkwardly on the bottom of the basket before they left had begun to swim! This is the third of four different developmental stages students get to observe during their TIC experience. This year, the excitement began on December 11th as eggs were delivered throughout the state!
When our Education Manager Amber and Coordinator Evan started in 2018, there were only 29 schools. In addition to sorting and packaging the eggs, most of them were delivered by the education team of 3 people. In 2019, the program grew by 15 schools and it was soon clear that it was no longer sustainable to do the sorting, packaging, and delivery of eggs to so many schools all by ourselves. That year, MNTU put together our first egg delivery team of 6 volunteers distributing eggs from the metro area.
Flash forward to egg delivery day 2024 where 32 volunteers from 3 different MNTU chapters, came together to deliver eggs to over 70 schools! Some volunteers are willing to drive up to 4 hours one way to get eggs to schools in the further reaches of the state. They not only transport eggs but also must stay in communication with me and their assigned teachers prior to and during the actual day. It also requires flexibility due to delayed shipments and inclement weather. Since 2019, they have driven thousands of miles with thousands of tiny trout eggs to thousands of thrilled students and their teachers.
A few special shoutouts to volunteers that have showed up over and over for Trout in the Classroom!
First, Jim McCraken, TIC coordinator for the Headwaters chapter, for taking the lead on the northern Minnesota area schools egg delivery team! This year was chaotic and stressful due to the eggs being delayed on top of having taken on additional schools, but Jim took it all in stride and remained in constant communication with me, the teachers, and the volunteers to make it happen. He also works with me each year to coordinate getting trout food and newsletters transported to Bemidji for distribution with the eggs. Thanks Jim!
Second, Amber Taylor, MNTU Education Manager’s mother Pam (Far left in photo), whom you have met if you have been part of egg delivery anytime since 2019. That year, she started helping me with egg delivery preparations and day of sorting, packing, and transporting when we were doing it at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In 2020, we were unable to use that space for egg sorting and distribution, so she said, “Let’s use my heated garage!”. And that’s where we have been doing egg distribution ever since. She allows me to take over her garage with coolers, newsletters, and boxes of trout food every November and helps me pull everything together. She has become an integral part of egg delivery day success! Thanks Pam!
A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all egg day volunteers!
