Trout Day celebrates trout release into Saucony Creek
High school class hosts educational program for 8th graders
Kutztown High School students hosted Trout Day, inviting 8th graders to join them while releasing 109 rainbow trout fingerlings into the Saucony Creek on May 20.
High school students in the wildlife and natural resources course participated in the Pennsylvania Trout In The Classroom program, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Raising trout from eggs shipped to the classroom from the state hatchery in Bellefonte, they monitored water quality, trout behavior and learned about the ideal cold water ecology required to raise healthy trout. The final part of the program is to release the fingerling trout into approved waterways in the spring.
This is the first year that Kutztown students participated in the Trout In The Classroom program but not for first-year Kutztown middle and high school biological and agricultural science teacher Ashley Pastor who previously participated in the program for several years.
“After seeing the benefits of the program and impacts on students, it was my goal to bring the program to Kutztown,” said Pastor. “We plan to continue holding this event annually for students in the district.”
To celebrate the release of their trout, the high school class of 12 students organized an educational program to teach the basics of fishing and cold water ecology to all Kutztown 8th graders.
“The purpose of the program is two-fold, one to help students new to fishing feel comfortable with equipment and gain interest in their outdoor environment and recreational opportunities in the state,” said Pastor. “In addition, both the novice and experienced fisherman gain knowledge about cold water ecology through the day’s events.”
The 98 middle schoolers learned about trout vocabulary, water quality through macroinvertebrate surveys, and the basics of casting, rigging, and knot tying.
“What I liked best was releasing the trout,” said 8th grader Haven Fegely. “It was fun learning about them, but it was great getting hands-on experience. I also really enjoyed the macroinvertebrate station because we saw real macroinvertebrates of the Saucony. It was educational while also being lots of fun.”
Clara Engel, an 8th grader, also enjoyed the trout release the best.
“It was a really fun and cool experience to be a part of,” said Engel. “The next best would have to be the macroinvertebrates station. Here we saw many cool macroinvertebrates and got to identify them.”
The 8th graders moved through stations and accumulated points in areas such as knot-tying relay races, successful macroinvertebrate identification, trout trivia, and casting proficiency, with winning groups earning prizes related to fishing.
“The hope is that students develop an appreciation for the resources available to citizens in Pennsylvania and that appreciation is reflected in a concern for the health of Pennsylvania waterways,” said Pastor.
At the macroinvertebrate station, students learned how environmental factors such as water temperature, oxygen, pollutants, and rate of flow affect not only trout, but the prey species they depend upon.
“Students learn to identify macroinvertebrates that are commonly used as indicators of good water quality,” she said.
They also learned to identify various fish species, which is important in order to follow fishing regulations and limits within the state.
“We hope that the high school students, many of whom also participated in the Berks County Envirothon contest earlier this spring, are able to spread their interest in Pennsylvania wildlife and ecology with younger students,” said Pastor.
“In addition, we hope to pique an interest in the health of their local waterways, such as the Sacony Creek, so that students recognize that their everyday practices can impact the health of the waterway,” she added. “Fishing is an opportunity for students to engage in the outdoors as a healthy recreational opportunity.”
She said Pennsylvania (with more than 86,000 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks) is second to only Alaska in the total mileage of streams in the state that can provide low cost recreation for families.
“It’s our hope that students take advantage of these resources and equally think about conserving that resource for future generations,” she said.
The Sacony Creek is a 17-mile stretch of water in the Delaware Watershed that feeds into the Maiden Creek, eventually leading to the Schuylkill River and Delaware River, she said.
“Land use and conservation practices in this local waterway have the potential to impact not just local citizens, but anyone relying on this resource downstream,” said Pastor. “When students understand the parameters needed to native species in our local waterways, they further understand how their practices can impact the health of those species and how water quality affects the entire ecosystem.”
Pastor acknowledged the many partners that helped to make this program possible for students. TIC training for teachers was provided by the Berks County Conservation District along with funding and equipment provided by the Tulpehocken Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Jennifer Brooks of the Berks County Conservation District was on site to help students with the physical release of the fish. Rods and rigging for the event were provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Winning team prizes of hats, tackle boxes, fishing journals, flashlights, and bobbers were donated by Bass Pro Shops.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Trout In The Classroom program, go to https:// www.patroutintheclassroom.org.