Education coordinator strives to connect people to natural resources through creative efforts such as women's programming, Trout in Classroom

The group pairs off with guides to 'dance' with Steelhead on Walnut Creek. The program is one of many offered by Amidea Daniel, Northcentral Region Education Coordinator for the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

Riverkeeper's note: The following story and podcast interview was completed by Emily Shosh.

​While Amidea Daniel's duties with the PA Fish and Boat Commission may get busy this time of year, the core focus of her work is fairly simple.

“The goal is to connect folks to the resources, to themselves and to the opportunities that these resources can provide to them in the future through outdoor experiences and good health,” she said of being the agency's Northcentral Region Education Coordinator.

Statewide, she manages the fish and boat commission's Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program, women's statewide mentor events and program, along with implementing programming in the 14-county Northcentral region.

“The main goal of the programming that I’m doing with PFBC now is to really introduce the public to the multitude of ways to enjoy the waterways in Pennsylvania and all they provide,” she said. “From introducing individuals to the basics of fishing and paddling, also tying in the conservation aspect through Leave No Trace, and then pulling them all back to say ‘we all have something to be proud of here in Pennsylvania’ - and that is the fact that we can enjoy these waters 365, 24/7.”
 
After graduating from Lock Haven University, Daniel served as an Americorps Vista volunteer with Centre County Conservation District where she introduced local citizens to water quality monitoring. She later entered a position as the Watershed Specialist for the Clinton County Conservation District, where her experience in environmental education thrived. She provided landowner workshops, school and youth events, summer camps and more. Daniel also worked with teachers and other non-formal educators to provide Project WILD and Project Learning Tree workshops, and stewardship project opportunities. 
 
She then worked for National Trout Unlimited through the Kettle Creek Home Rivers Initiative to provide workshops, organize riparian buffer plantings, and introduce schools to Trout in the Classroom. Daniel made weekly visits to support the TIC curriculum.
 
Daniel also incorporates the importance of collaboration in conservation and shares an inside view of watershed work happening in PA through her programming.

“When you look at a healthy stream, there are lots of folks to thank for that," she said. "The fish and boat commission, local TU chapters, conservation districts, watershed associations and others are out there on a yearly basis working hard to keep that water healthy."
 
Collaboration is also key in providing Daniel’s programming.

With the current expansion of her women’s programming for example, “the collaborative efforts to make that happen are exponential," she said. "Everything from local Trout Unlimited chapters to professional guides/instructors and local/statewide businesses, to groups like Delaware Valley Women's Fly Fishing Association, Lancaster Fly Girls, PA Reel Sisters and local Watershed Associations."

Members of these groups are eager to help organize events and instruct, some even completing the Fishing Skills Instructors courses. 

Amidea Daniel

PA Fish and Boat Commission Northcentral Region Education Coordinator Amidea Daniel shared her story about efforts to connect people to our natural resources through environmental education in the Northcentral region on the most recent episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast. Check out the conversation here:

The retreat takes place annually in May, and offers a weekend of fishing, connecting with conservationists, stewardship opportunities, and more.

The group from last year's pilot run of the women's excursion weekend at Leonard Harrison State Park in Tioga County.

​“When we’re looking at implementation of programming in any given community, or we’re trying to make that network connection across the state, the idea is to always think about what the ‘next step’ opportunities could be for participants,” Daniel said.

This means connecting program participants with local groups to further knowledge and skills. 

“Sometimes TU chapters host meet-and-greets and fly-tying classes, or in some cases they’ll do riparian plantings or cleanups, or fishing experiences on local ponds or lakes. It’s really key, because the 'one-and-done' program aspect doesn’t work," Daniel said. We always say you need to have at least two to three additional post-program opportunities to push out to participants. The more diverse opportunities, the more participants can get to know the organizations better, get a little more confident on the water and hopefully extend their experiences for a lifetime.”
 
Like many educators, some memorable points in Daniel’s career are centered around witnessing personal breakthroughs in participants.

“You see them make that cast or that connection for the first time - understanding what a ‘take’ is - and their eyes just light up. Or better yet, some of these moments when, you as an instructor are thinking the success is catching a fish, but you start to realize that the participant becomes the instructor," she said. "Sometimes success to us is, ‘we’re trying to rush to the water because the fish are rising.’ But in reality a participant’s success may be completely opposite.  Their success may be tying a knot successfully, making a cast, getting unstuck, the journey to, the journey from, the little moments and observations in that experience."

There are a few other moments that lie “even deeper in the soul,” Daniel said.

“Especially with our women’s steelhead programs, what we started to notice is that participants are now becoming friends, they’re hanging out. I’ve seen folks who started out as participants who are now instructors," she said. "They’re also hunting and camping with these friends that they’ve met. It’s phenomenal to see that and it’s just organically happening."
 
To get involved with PFBC work and programming, Daniel recommends the Trout in the Classroom program to formal or non-formal teachers.

“We’re rolling into about 17 years with the program. It started at 90 teachers in 2008 and we’re currently sitting at 430. Many of them have multiple aquariums, so if we’re talking in those numbers, we have 450 TIC aquariums across the state. It’s a big program and a big family,” Daniel said. “It really is shouldered on volunteers and conservation districts, and those teachers dedicated and passionate to connect youth to their coldwater resources through Trout in the Classroom.”
 
Organizations can also get involved through the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program, where any community building can act as a hub for free loaner fishing supplies.
 
Lastly, Daniel shared that anyone looking to get involved with habitat projects should reach out to Trout Unlimited chapters, conservation districts or other groups who are working with PFBC to install lake habitat structures or stream projects. More information on those projects can be found here. 
 
Coming up, PFBC has National Safe Boating week from May 17-31.

Daniel and the Women’s Committee also have the Women’s Mentor Retreat for those interested in mentoring other women and learn about the different women’s programming and conservation opportunities on the horizon.

One new program offered in 2025 will be the Women’s Excursion in October, which will incorporate camping, hiking, biking and fishing in one weekend.

Daniel also encourages anyone looking to instruct or mentor budding anglers to seek out the Fishing Skills Instructor courses as well as various PFBC’s programs throughout the state to assist with. Whether you’d like to attend as a participant or instruct, the full calendar of events can be found here.