Fourth-grade students from Twin Valley Elementary Center in Elverson released their brook trout fingerlings into Hay Creek across from the old White Bear Restaurant along Hay Creek Road in Birdsboro.
“This is the end of a yearlong adventure for our students,” fourth-grade teacher Susan Sanger said. “From Nov. 4, 2015, to April 21, 2016, they have been raising the trout from eggs as part of the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom program.”
The Tulpehocken Branch of Trout Unlimited partnered with TVEC to implement the program. This interdisciplinary program introduces coldwater conservation education into Pennsylvania schools by raising brook trout, a native coldwater species, from eggs to fingerlings.
“Some of the eggs were already hatched when they arrived. Most of them hatched within two weeks of their arrival. They are then sac fries and they move very little. Once they ‘swim up’ and out of the baskets, we keep them in at the top of the tank, we start to feed them,” said Sanger.
Her students observed the following:
“Trout start out as eggs but grow very, very fast,” said Emily Borochaner.
“They can grow up to 2 inches as a hatchling,” added Emma McClune.
“My friend and I got to feed the trout and it was very interesting,” said Shayne O’Doherty.
Throughout the year, the students monitor and record aquarium water quality and trout behavior.
The statewide program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Sanger, Barry Llewellyn, Stephanie Pierce and Stephanie Burger enhanced the program by incorporating coldwater education lessons into the classroom as the students cared for the trout daily.
“I think that having trout in fourth grade teaches us responsibility and how to treat almost any living creature,” said Leland Millisock of Sanger’s class.
“We learned more about trout and how they live in the water. We also learned about not polluting and the wonders of nature,” said Madelyn Stevens of Llewellyn’s class.
“It was fun to see the life cycle of the brook trout and to learn new things,” said Anna Givens of Sanger’s class.
“My friend and I explored the needs and life cycle of these amazing creatures,” said CJ Spahr of Sanger’s class.
“Trout release time is near” heralded the permission letter sent home to parents. It read, “The time has come to release our trout into the wild. We have raised these trout from eggs to fingerlings and now they need to make it on their own in the world. When we began this program, we did not know what to expect for release day. We currently have between 75 and 100 fish to release. We did not set this up as a field trip because we wanted to include our partners, The Tulpehocken Branch of Trout Unlimited. They will have members assisting us in the release.
Parents were also welcome to participate.
Sanger said, “The trout release was really fun. We first made trout bracelets with beads and leather. Each bead stood for something that we did with the trout.
“Then, the big release. Each child received a cup with various numbers of fish in them to put into the stream,” she said.
“It was so exciting feeling the water, knowing that our trout were being released,” said Patrick Skoniczin of Sanger’s class.
Other students from her class had this to add:
“They are cool and they taught me a lot about fish,” said Noah Williams.
“I learned that some will survive and some will die and some will become food for other fish,” said Connor Phillips.
“The trout were a lot to learn, but it came to the time where we finally released them,” said Jazaira Campos-Vega.
“I think the trout program is a really fun experience for kids because it teaches kids about the trout life cycle,” said Mariah Snyder.
“I really like it. I think it is a good thing to make a program about the state fish. It was also very exciting,” said Anthony Dial.
“I like this program because it taught me the life cycle of a trout and how they live,” said Caroline Lowes.
“The brook trout were amazing,” added Avi Pandya.
“I think it is cool that we could do better than nature. This refers to our survival rate, which is much higher than it would be in nature,” summed up Zachary Secord.
At the release, Burger’s students remarked:
“The Trout Release Program was exciting, because we got to put life into the environment!” said Makenna Roach.
“Raising trout from eggs to fish was a great experience, because we were learning the life cycle,” Morgan Raines said.
“Having trout at TVEC was a good learning experience about the life cycle. We raised them, and let them go to continue their life cycle,” Kayla said.
Nate said, “The Trout Release was fun, because we all had the chance to put a cup of trout into the water.”
Sky said, “Playing learning games and seeing the trout swim away was exciting!”
TVEC teachers spoke highly of the grant from the Tulpehocken Branch of Trout Unlimited that made the program possible and said they were impressed with their support throughout the entire program.