Program Partners

Forging Partnerships for Meaningful Education

There are many local environmental education providers, watershed associations, conservation organizations, and state agencies that teachers may wish to contact for potential involvement in a PA TIC program. These groups help enrich your program's success by playing one (and, in very special cases, both!) of the following roles:

Program Sponsor:
An organization or individual that provides funding to support the TIC program in a classroom, but does not engage TIC students in other ways. Explore Funding for potential program sponsors.

Program Partner:
An organization or individual that actively engages TIC students in various presentations, lessons, and activities relating to the TIC program to help teachers achieve the highest rate of program success possible.

There are many ways a program partner can help enhance your PA TIC experience and community connections! A partner may be interested in leading activities on PA TIC release days; providing outdoor educational field experiences; engaging students in local watershed projects; and exposing students to careers in environmental science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM). A recent survey of program partners statewide shows that almost 90% of partners take an active role within the classroom, with many partners visiting your school for a unique programming experience. Some partners, including Trout Unlimited chapters, may be willing to help provide funds for equipment or classroom excursions.

Dave Dickens, Sr., TIC Coordinator for the Valley Forge Chapter of TU, visits a PA TIC classroom for a lesson on brook trout life cycles.

Judi Sittler, Youth/Outreach Chair for the Spring Creek Chapter of TU, engages students in an aquatic macroinvertebrate study. Like coldwater trout, these animals can act as important bioindicators of stream health.

Many different groups serve as program partners across the state, including local Trout Unlimited chapters, conservation districts, and watershed associations. Below, you will find links to organizations who could be potential partners for your PA TIC program. While these are not the only organizations that may be of interest to you, their work is highly related to the PA TIC program, and they have all historically partnered with schools for watershed and environmental education.

Here are examples of organizations you may be interested in contacting:

Environmental Education Providers in PA

Find EE Near You! Explore over 475 environmental education providers in Pennsylvania that provide environmental education programs for school groups and adults alike. You can use this online inventory to search for potential PA TIC program partners, including nature centers, museums, state parks/forests, and environmental education non-profits, in your region or across the state.

Dive Deeper into TIC!

For a deeper look at the PA TIC program, including an overview, classroom objectives, essential documents, and how to get started, please visit the DIVE INTO TIC landing page. Also be sure to visit its various subsections: Getting Started, Essential Documents, Program Timeline, Program Directory, Program Partners, Aquarium Set-Up, and Required Forms.