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Dear Representative (your representative's name),
My name is ( ), and I have been a Connecticut resident for ( ) years. I am writing you to urge you to support the Kensington Hatchery and continue its funding. This facility is a valuable resource to our state's economy, sportsmen and educational institutions.
There are 65 schools, with 6,414 students, presently involved in the Salmon in the Classroom program. There are 86 schools, 103 tanks and an estimated 10,000 students involved and affected to some degree in the Trout In Classroom Schools, 103 tanks
Trout in the Classroom programs, with tanks in their schools containing fish that can only be supplied from the Kensington Hatchery. That hatchery alone has the water quality and disease-free Seeforellen brown trout stocks to supply these programs. These fish provide an interesting and hands-on educational resource that engages students in their work and makes their learning real, relevant and meaningful. They are used to teach about genetics, aquaculture, growth and development, math skills, teamwork, problem-solving, data organization and many other aspects of a well-rounded education. What can you think of that more directly fits the STEM education that is currently being encouraged in our Connecticut schools?
Connecticut's economy and sportsmen also benefit from the hatchery. It supplies resident and nonresident fishermen with countless hours of quality outdoor recreation and brings in money through fishing licenses, tackle sales, motel stays and restaurant meals. The savings from closing this facility would be superseded by the money lost to our economy, and the quality of life in our state would be diminished for many. The hatchery's funding is supported, for a large part, by fishing licenses purchased for the purpose of using the products of this hatchery and cutting its funding would do very little to offset our current fiscal deficit.
Please take this into consideration when making your decision on this matter.
Respectfully,
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