Brook trout take to the classroom

By SANDY LONG

HONESDALE, PA — Before that April day when they enter regional waterways, 660 brook trout will spend their early lives in area classrooms. Students in several Wayne County schools and one Pike County school will studiously tend the tiny trout, which arrived at the Wayne County Conservation District as bright orange eggs through the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program.

Now in its second year, TIC is conducted nationwide, providing an innovative means of teaching the importance of watersheds. There are currently 85 Pennsylvania schools involved in the program, which originated in New York.

Like doting parents, the children will grow fond of their slippery charges as they shepherd them through the process of maturing from eggs to alevins and finally to the four-to-five-inch fingerlings they will eventually become. Along the way, students also learn about the trout’s habitat conditions and begin to see connections between the trout, water resources, the environment and themselves.

Throughout, students monitor tank water quality, test pH and ammonia levels, feed the trout and clean the tank, study stream habitat, learn about ecosystems and develop an appreciation for conservation of healthy water resources. Through the program’s website, teachers can draw upon prepared lesson plans and gather ideas on linking TIC with other programs of study.

Dave Kaneski, waterways conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, described the program as an invaluable tool for teaching hands-on environmental education. “It directly ties to the environment, especially the aquatic community and the value of clean water,” said Kaneski.

The program can be adapted for grades K-12 and can be broadened to show connections with other areas of study as well. Kaneski cited the example of teaching reading or English, and incorporating the work of related authors. “Zane Grey comes to mind, a successful author whose favorite past time was fishing,” said Kaneski.

As part of the multi-agency project, National Park Service biologist Jamie Myers provides support by visiting classrooms, answering questions and tying in the project with related water quality issues, such as the ongoing Delaware River water quality monitoring programs conducted by the NPS.

Due to the need for the specialized tanks, startup costs for each classroom are approximately $1,000. Last year’s startup costs were covered mostly by Leeward Construction, according to Bob Muller, manager of the Wayne County Conservation District. Ongoing support is needed. Contact Muller at 570/253-0930 for more information. Visit www.troutintheclassroom.org for information about the TIC program.