There’s something fishy going on in Ennis Elementary’s fifth grade classrooms

Every year fifth graders from Ennis Elementary School visit the Ennis Fish Hatchery to see first hand where the trout fry come from, before they raise them and eventually release them into the Lion’s Club Park Kid’s Fishing Pond. It’s all part of a nationwide program called Trout in the Classroom (TIC.)

“Through Trout in the Classroom, students learn about aquatic ecosystems, water quality, trout biology, and the importance of clean, cold water by raising trout from eggs to fingerlings,” said Mia Cignoni, the conservation programs manager for the Madison River Foundation (MRF) who helped bring the program to Ennis Elementary in 2025. “The hands-on experience builds scientific skills, responsibility, and a strong sense of environmental stewardship.”

On the field trip the students get a look at all aspects of the Ennis Fish Hatchery, which is the largest facility in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s national broodstock program. Unlike most hatcheries, Ennis raises fish and harvests and fertilizes eggs and distributes them to production hatcheries all over the country. Ron Hopper, the hatchery manager, and his team are currently raising seven varieties of rainbow trout according to the facilities website. 

After the field trip the students take responsibility for a batch of fertilized trout eggs that they will raise and eventually release.

“The Ennis Fish Hatchery supports programs like ours by providing Rainbow trout eggs and has been an incredible partner,” explained Cignoni. “Hatchery manager Ron Hopper has offered significant guidance and support throughout the process.”

The TIC’s program and a partnership with the Ennis Fish Hatchery seemed like a no-brainer for Cignoni as she looked for ways to enhance the educational programs of the MRF. 

“I was looking for ways to expand MRF’s education programming and learned about TIC. With Ennis having its own local fish hatchery, it felt like a perfect fit for the community,” she said. “In December 2024, I met with Shauna Stephenson, GROWW Program Coordinator, who helped coordinate with the school principal and connected with 5th grade teachers Christy Nelson and Carley Gerlach. Everyone was enthusiastic, and we were able to move forward quickly.”

Throughout the hatchery field trip the students were engaged in the lessons that provided exposure to a wide range of biological practices and techniques used by the hatchery staff. The hatchery trip is the first of two field trips the fifth graders take for the program. The second is a trip to the Ennis Fish Pond to release their fish into the wild and that trip has produced one of Cignoni’s favorite memories about the program. 

“One of the most memorable moments was release day at Ennis Lions Park, where students released the trout they had raised into the kids fishing pond (with FWP approval),” she explained through a smile. “The students were thrilled to see their fish enter the natural world. Though some were genuinely heartbroken to say goodbye. It really showed how invested and connected they had become through the program.

After the release, we discovered we had missed one fish in the tank. When the students returned to the classroom and saw a single trout still swimming around, it gave everyone a good laugh.”

The experience of raising the trout provides a natural introduction to the further study of the biology of the fish themselves. 

“Another standout experience was a fish dissection lesson led by Lacey Hopper, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Health Biologist,” Cignoni continued. “I wasn’t sure how 5th graders would respond, but they were completely engaged and enthusiastic, asking thoughtful questions and diving right into hands-on learning.”

The TIC program was created by the conservation group Trout Unlimited over 30 years ago and according to their website helps build a connection between over 100,000 students and their watersheds each year. There was interest in the program in Ennis prior to the MRF becoming involved, but it was Cignoni who helped overcome the obstacles that had prevented getting the program up and running in the past. 

“While the school had been interested in starting a program in the past, equipment costs were a limiting factor,” she explained. “MRF was able to fully fund the equipment and provide the support needed to launch the program successfully.”

Cignoni imagines that the MRF will receive huge returns on their investment into the program. 

“The program benefits the Madison River and the broader community by helping educate a new generation of river stewards who understand how their actions impact water quality and fish habitat,” she said. “By connecting students directly to a species native to the Madison River and to local conservation partners, TIC fosters a deeper appreciation for the river, encourages conservation-minded citizens, and strengthens ties between schools, the river, and the community as a whole.”

While the MRF is investing in the long-term benefits of the program, Cignoni, Harper and the teachers and students get to enjoy the immediate rewards of the experience. 

“One of the most rewarding parts of this program has been seeing just how engaged the students have been from start to finish,” she said. “From touring the Ennis Fish Hatchery, to rolling up their sleeves for a fish dissection, to welcoming Ron from the hatchery into their classroom as he dropped off eggs, brought fish food, and shared lessons along the way, the kids were all in. At every event, including release day, they asked thoughtful, curious questions and showed genuine excitement. It was clear they weren’t just learning science; they were building a real connection to the Madison River and beginning to understand what it means to care for it.”