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Helena Independent Record (MT)
By Alana Listoe
Earlier this year eight classrooms in the Helena School District received
800 fertilized trout eggs, which have now all hatched and are giving
students hands-on scientific learning.
Schools in Helena have participated in the program, Trout in the Classroom,
for the past five years. It is designed to teach kids about the life cycle
of trout and the importance of maintaining a healthy habitat, which requires
constant cold, clean water.
Previous years have included only four Helena schools in the Trout in the
Classroom program. This year, the PP&L Montana Community Fund Grant Program
made it possible to purchase equipment for four additional schools.
This is most likely the highest concentration of Trout in the Classroom in
the country, according to Jay Erickson, president of the Pat Barnes Missouri
River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
The experience is exciting for children because an aquarium is right in the
classroom, allowing them to watch the trout eggs hatch and grow. Students
learn about habitat as they strive to meet the needs of the aquarium with
quality of water and stable temperatures.
The students monitor the aquariums daily, recording data after testing pH,
and ammonia levels. When and if problems do occur, the students determine
the cause and formulate solutions.
Students in Eric Lehman’s fourth-grade class at Hawthorne Elementary have
been diligently and enthusiastically caring for the 62 eggs they received.
Today, there are 55 fish eagerly swimming in the classroom aquarium.
“I
really love being part of this project and seeing the life cycle,”
fourth-grader Jenny Burt said.
Fellow student, Kyle Harrington, said his favorite part was watching the
eggs hatch, but admits that it was hard to be patient about it.
Derek Lund said he learned there are some species of native trout that are
endangered and Ashley Pitt said this has been, “the most fun project she has
ever experienced.”
Later this spring the students will release the trout into Spring Meadow
Lake, which has no outlet so the fish cannot reach Montana’s river system.
Erickson said that many of the trout will not survive in the lake, as Spring
Meadow has many smallmouth bass — predators of young trout.
Fourth-grader Emilee Jones says she enjoys fishing at Spring Meadow, so this
project helps ensure successful future trips.
“It is important to learn to not kill the fish just for fun,” Jones said.
“Sometimes we catch them to eat, and other times we let them go.” |