Livingston Manor concluded its Trout in the Classroom program with the release of the trout raised in two classrooms during the school year.
The nearly two dozen 2- to 3-inch-long fish were released by students in Mrs. Takas' and Mrs. Evans' class into Willowemoc Creek on May 16. Also releasing a fish was Gloria Smith, a former LMCS teacher who first brought the Trout in the Classroom to the district around 20 years ago.
Trout in the Classroom was revived at Livingston Manor this year after a few years of being dormant. The program gives students a hands-on opportunity to learn about the natural world around them by raising trout from eggs.
Beyond learning the trout lifecycle—from eggs to fry to fingerlings—students learn about anatomy, physiology, adaptations and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Monitoring water quality becomes a chemistry hands-on lesson involving such testing parameters as pH, dissolved oxygen and ammonia levels and introducing such concepts as chemical reactions and the importance of clean water.
Students also learn about data collection and analysis. Monitoring water parameters and fish growth involves recording data, creating graphs and calculating averages, strengthening statistical skills and data interpretation.
Conservation, local history and geography and civic engagement lessons are also part of the program as is creative writing.
Following the release, elementary students took part in a variety activities throughout the day, including trying fly fishing techniques with help from the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum and Trout Town Adventures and Guide Services, seeing demonstrations from the K-9 unit of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and learning more about the trout life cycle from the New York State Catskill Fish Hatchery - Mongaup, which also brought larger 12-inch trout for students to release into the creek.
Students also had the opportunity to decorate trout-shaped cookies, create spin art, complete trout coloring pages, and play lawn games, thanks to the help from students in the agricultural sciences class, FFA, FCCLA and the Interact Club.
More photos can be found on our Facebook page.