Release Dates & Volunteer Opportunities






May
We have a critical need for volunteers and assistance.  A volunteer would be needed to be present at the park on the morning of the release, time to be determined, (usually 9:30-10:00), and assist the park ranger with the release and their programs, helping to manage the children and answer questions.  The groups generally break up between 1:30 & 2:30 to return back to their schools, and assistance is finished for the day.  Waders are recommended for volunteers to assist children in the streams.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact:
Charlotte & North Schools: Bill Thomas - 704-231-7492     [email protected]
Charlotte & South Schools: Dana Hershey - 704-577-7700   [email protected]

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August - Tank Setup
  • Teacher or staff Setup the tank stand, tank and configure the supporting chiller, filtration, lightingsupplies and storage.
  • Trout Unlimited Volunteer assists if needed
  • NCTU Blog NCWRC Helpline (Q&A year-round)

September October 
    Egg Delivery
  • Tank fully operational... Container with eggs is floated in water from the tank until container temperature is equal to tank temperature...Eggs are placed in one or two rearing.
  • Date set among Volunteers and the hatchery for egg delivery and communicated with schools.
  • NCWRC hatchery provides 200+ eggs per school (each in a container) and 3 sizes of trout food per school.  

    Feeding
  • baskets with tank darkened.
  • RRTU Lead Volunteer brings.

    Water quality
  • Teacher plans/arranges for trout to be fed and tank.
  • RRTU Lead Volunteer brings.
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Holidays - Equipment maintenance
  • Teacher plans/arranges field trip to release trout fry
  • Volunteers meet, take their deliveries. 
  • ​NCWRC issues permits per requests.

​April May 
   Equipment maintenance
  • Teacher and students release fry...sample bentic life in stream
  • A pyramid of distributions at second meeting places will become more necessary as schools are added. ​
  • ​If in state park, park staff provides program.
   Equipment re-use and preparation
  • Teacher or staff cleans-up and services tank and equipment
  • Each Volunteer delivers eggs and assists in acclimating at each school.
Note: NCWRC Division of Education provides a helpline to teachers and arranges for a coldwater biologist to assist or be available to discuss and answer questions. NCTU Blog is setup for teachers to Q&A and share experiences. RRTU website will collect photographs from teachers and volunteers to post as slideshows for each school. Both NCTU and RRTU maintains standby chiller equipment in case a school has a chiller failure.

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Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (c) 2014