Fish in the classroom

The Pet Care Trust today announced that it will create and support a Fish in the Classroom Program over the next three years.

Lew Sutton, PetAg, the President of the Pet Care Trust, said, “I am pleased to announce today the creation of the Pet Care Trust’s Fish in the Classroom (FIC) Program that will educate and enhance the experiences of grade school students who are learning about fish and how to care for them, while at the same time providing value to the industry that makes fish ownership and enjoyment possible.”

Sutton continued, “Over the next three years we will look forward to working with five nationally recognized aquariums and grade schools and retailers across the country to create Fish in the Classroom Programs that will include a 'Retail Mentoring Program' that will operate on an ongoing basis by the retailers in the communities where the Aquariums are located.”

The FIC team will also develop a National “Retailer” Fish in the Classroom Program that will help retailers across the country establish their own grassroots-based Fish in the Classroom Programs where retailers can support teachers and mentor the program on an ongoing basis.

“We will use the remainder of 2007 to learn from and help expand the existing Florida Aquarium’s Aquariumania Outreach Program. Our plan is to help the Florida Aquarium extend their outreach program to 100 teachers by the end of 2007,” noted Sutton.

On July 30, 2007, senior executives from the hardware and software aquatic industry will meet for the first time in Chicago, IL, to create and organize an Aquatic Advisory Council (AAC) that will provide ongoing strategic counsel to support the FIC program.

“Our goal is to create and extend the FIC program across the United States to reach grade school students, and do so in a partnership with those in business who recognize the opportunity and value that can be created by helping young people learn about and enjoy fish,” Sutton concluded.