Teacher Tuesday: Discover Nature Fishing Teacher Training + Mississippi River Field Experience!

Bring hands-on fishing education to your students while gaining firsthand experience on one of Missouri’s most dynamic ecosystems.

During this professional development training, educators will be introduced to the Discover Nature Fishing curriculum and learn how to confidently teach fishing skills, aquatic stewardship, and conservation ethics to their students. Participants will explore lesson structure, teaching strategies, and ways to safely and effectively conduct fishing activities with youth while meeting Missouri Learning Standards.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. at Red Star Boat Ramp, where participants will board a boat and travel north on the Mississippi River to Tower Rock. Throughout the trip, a Missouri Department of Conservation Big River Fisheries Management Biologist will provide expert interpretation on river ecology, native fish species, habitat management, and conservation challenges unique to large river systems.

This on-the-water experience helps teachers build both content knowledge and real-world context they can bring directly back to their classrooms and student fishing outings.

Participants will:

• Receive Discover Nature Fishing curriculum materials and instructional resources, including tackle and fishing poles for their classroom. 
• Gain practical knowledge of fish identification, habitat, and responsible angling practices.
• Learn directly from fisheries professionals while exploring the Mississippi River.

Teachers are encouraged to bring their own personal flotation device (PFD) or may request one to borrow during registration.

After the Mississippi River field experience, participants will meet at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center to receive and go over more of the Discover Nature Fishing Lessons, materials, and curriculum.

Educators who also attend the Nature Unhooked (Grades 6–8) training the same day will leave with a complete, connected aquatic education toolkit—pairing classroom-based aquatic science lessons with outdoor fishing experiences that reinforce stewardship and conservation values. (please register for both this training and the Nature Unhooked Training) 

Together, these trainings support teachers in building student confidence outdoors, strengthening science learning through real-world application, and fostering lifelong connections to Missouri’s aquatic resources.

Graduate Credit may be available.