Environmental Education

Hatchery staff provides numerous tours, seminars, and exhibits for academic institutions, Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs, and civic organizations, as well as educational events throughout the state.

Biologists in Training (BiT)

Biologists in Training and Fish Identification are courses for area youth offering a hands-on approach to learn certain tasks that a Fish Biologist might perform on the job. Besides seining and netting fish, the youth learn to identify fish caught and the importance of a balanced aquatic ecosystem. Contact hatchery for dates and times of upcoming courses.

Boy Scouts

Boy Scout groups from Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas that attend the nearby Slippery Falls Scout Ranch summer camp visit the hatchery to complete merit badges in National Citizenship, Federal Facilities, and Conservation in the Environment.

In 2013 the Slippery Falls Scout Ranch presented the hatchery with a certificate of appreciation for their outreach efforts. Read more about it in our Field Notes article, Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery Receives Certificate of Appreciation from Boy Scouts, posted in August 2013.

Girl Scouts

The hatchery supports the local Girl Scouts of America unit by providing the opportunity to earn badges.

Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)

Each summer the hatchery hires local community youth to work at the hatchery. The primary areas of focus for the YCC employees are water quality monitoring, helping with fish culture activities (including paddlefish, channel catfish, and alligator snapping turtles), and grounds maintenance. Besides learning from the staff, these youth are also given the opportunity to learn about environmental education issues. Students interested in applying should contact the hatchery for more information.

Events

Hatchery Events

National Fishing and Boating Week (First full week of June)

Annual Fishing Derby (First Saturday in June)

Let’s go fishing! This is a statement most children love to hear. The thought of going out to a body of water, putting something squishy on a hook and throwing the line into the water with the expectation of catching something is very intriguing to them.

The focus of this event is to stir the interest of the young and the young at heart. As the years have passed word has spread of how much fun the event is and the organizing, setting up, and gathering of donations to prepare for the event has become easier. Although the preparation for the event is a huge undertaking, the rewards are multiplied many times over. Seeing the wonder and joy of our young participants and hearing a simple “thank you” or “we had so much fun” makes this event meaningful to us.

• The event is always free and open to children ages 6-12.
• The time of the event is from 9 am to 11 am.
• Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Free water and healthy snacks.
• Bring your own rod, tackle, and cooler (if keeping fish).
• Anglers may take home 5 fish per fisherman.
• Don't forget your sunscreen!

The Hatchery plans to continue offering this fun fishing event each year on the first Saturday in June for youth throughout the state.

Outreach

Community Events

The Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery also participates in community events outside the hatchery. Events we have participated in previously are listed below (participation is not guaranteed every year).

• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Expo
• Johnston County Fair
• Lake Murray Earth Day Celebration
• Arbuckle-Simpson Nature Festival
• Annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce and Emergency Management System