Interested in participating in the Classroom Aquarium Education Project this year? Make sure you follow all of the steps below.
Step 1 - Participate in a Teacher Training
All teachers must participate in a regional teacher training to become certified prior to applying for eggs. Trainings are required for:
- New teachers interested in participating for the first time
- Teachers who have been on hiatus from CAEP for 3 years or more
- Teachers who recently moved from one CDFW region to another
- Teachers who have been decertified for any reason (see guidelines for more information)
To register for a teacher training, visit your regional webpage.
If you are already trained and certified in your region, you can skip to step 2.
Step 2 - Apply for Eggs
Certified teachers must apply for eggs annually via the online Application to Receive, Transport, and Rear Eggs and Fish (CDFW Form 772). Applications will be reviewed by CDFW Program Coordinators on a rolling basis. Teachers will be notified once their application has been approved and will be provided with an estimated delivery date.
Please note that the application is not a guarantee that eggs will be provided.
Submit a CAEP Application
Application Deadlines
Applications must be received by your region's deadline to be considered
| Region |
Deadline(s) |
|
Region 1 West
|
Date coming soon
|
|
Region 1 East
|
Date coming soon |
|
Region 2
|
- Chinook Salmon - Feather River/Sacramento: October 31, 2025
- Chinook Salmon - Mokelumne/San Joaquin: December 5, 2025
- Steelhead Trout - January 30, 2026
- Rainbow Trout – Late winter/early spring – deadlines vary
- Lahontan Cutthroat Trout – exact deadline TBD
|
| Region 3 |
|
| Region 4 |
|
| Region 5 |
- Fall Trout - September 14, 2025
- Winter Trout - December 14, 2025
|
| Region 6 North |
Program currently on hiatus.
|
| Region 6 South |
- Fall Trout – September 26, 2025
- Winter Trout – February , 2025
- Spring Trout – March 31, 2026
|
Step 3 - Obtain an Authorization Form
Once teachers have been accepted into the program, a hard copy of an Authorization Form (CDFW Form 772) will be delivered along with the fish eggs. This form will include the delivery and release-by dates, ideal water temperature, authorized release location, and more. The Authorization Form must remain with the eggs, tank and fish at all times, including at the field trip.
Step 4 - Submit a Release Summary
At the end of the program and following fish release (or after the last fish dies in the classroom or during transport), teachers are required to report back to CDFW within 14 days by completing an online Release Summary. This step is mandatory and helps us properly track how many fish were released into each waterbody, and record student participation numbers.
Complete the Release Summary
Questions? Reach out to your regional coordinator, or get in touch with the statewide CAEP team by emailing CAEP@wildlife.ca.gov