Planning a meaningful youth event

What makes a successful and meaningful field education experience for youth?  A lot of chapters offer a lot of different types of education events, and they all have many things in common.  TU youth education events:

·         focus on the fish and the water,  

·         are hands-on and interesting for the participants, and

·         are either outside or focus on being outside eventually. 

These are all qualities of excellent events that hook kids into caring about trout, salmon, and streams.

When kids come to your chapter events, do they know what they’re learning and WHY they are learning it?  Having kids understand the whys of their learning is important to making a lasting impression, and to helping kids think carefully about their local water resources.  To ensure that we give kids the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their home waters, each education experience should have four parts:

1. BEFORE: Preview the activity and ask the Big Question

2. DURING: Be hands-on and thoughtful

3. FREE TIME: Let them pursue their own adventures

4. AFTER: Review the activity and discuss the Big Question

You can read about these in detail on our TIC volunteer resources page or in the Tacklebox.