Educational Programming at TFFC

Aquatic Education

The education team at TFFC provides meaningful aquatic education experiences for weekday school, club and scout groups. Programming is offered during a four-hour block beginning at mid-morning or at other times by special arrangement.

Teachers and group leaders may choose from among such activities as a wetlands tour, fishing, study of aquatic invertebrates, water quality investigation, fish identification, attending the dive show, tram tour of the production hatchery, tour of the Visitor Center exhibits and more.

Independent learning stations are available for self-guided study of properties of water and aquatic organisms.

Teachers are encouraged to prepare their classes for field trips by completing pre-visit activities and to take an active role in instruction on-site. Teacher resources for appropriate activities are available by clicking on the Teacher Resources button.

Fly Fishing Instruction

Fly fishing instruction for beginner and intermediate levels is available at scheduled times by reservation. All equipment is furnished, but you may bring your own. Classes are held at the Fly Fish Pavilion adjacent to a wadeable pond stocked with largemouth bass. Recommended minimum age is 12, and a fee is charged. Please check the calendar of events for schedule information.

Hunter Education

Hunter education classes are offered at TFFC at various times during the year. The wetlands trail at TFFC also serves as a hunter skills trail for students from the East Texas area. Instructors may bring their classes to TFFC for this purpose. No admission fee is charged for use of the hunter skills trail, but reservations are required.

View class schedules and complete information on hunter education.

State-Fish Art Contest

TFFC is the official host for the Texas State-Fish Art Contest sponsored by Wildlife Forever. Students in grades 4 through 12 are invited to create an illustration of an official state fish and write a composition on its behavior, habitat and conservation. For entry forms and more information, visit our contest page.

Special Programs

TFFC offers outdoor-related workshops, professional development and special classes on an occasional basis. In the past we have offered workshops in both film and digital photography as well as teacher workshops on aquatic education. Please check the calendar of events for upcoming programs.

Distance Learning

TFFC is working to establish a relationship with one or more institutions of higher education that will allow TFFC to offer educational programming via two-way interactive video with off-site locations.

Related Links

• Group Reservation Form
• Teacher Resources
  • Television Programming
    • AquaKids
  • Water Science for Schools
    • ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
  • Wetlands
    • www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/
    • www.epa.gov/region01/students/teacher/world.html
    • www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/science/readlist.html
    • www.fws.gov/nwi/educator.htm
    • www.nwrc.usgs.gov/fringe/where.html
  • TPWD Angler Education pages

For more information, contact:

• Craig Brooks, (903) 670-2222

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