I FISH NY, a joint program of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYSG now welcomes educators to the “for Teachers” page at www.ifishnewyork.org with links to many lessons useful for both formal (labeled In-Class) or informal (Out-of-Class) settings to teach about ecology and conservation biology as it relates to fish and the enjoyment of fishing.

“These lesson plans and assessment activities fit nicely into the science curricula and can be taken as full lessons or pieced into existing lessons,” says Malynda Nichol, former I FISH NY educator who is now a middle school teacher.

All lessons, elementary through high school, are aligned with the NYS Education Learning Standards. The I FISH NY team serving NYC city students led by Dr. James McDonald and aide Darin Alberry is working to increase the number of secondary lessons. Says Ann TeNyenhuis of I FISH NY Long Island, “This past season was a great success with outreach to new school districts, libraries, and summer camps, giving more students and residents the opportunity to try their hand at fishing—always a rewarding experience.”