Smethport students release fingerlings into Marvin Creek

Class members are Kellie Kinney, Brooke Mandley, Ryan Mason, Gavin McCabe, Gracee-Shay Meely, Deagen Mandell, Ken Roach, Shaun Roberts, Marissa Robinson, Brian Rounsville, Desirae Rounsville, Evan Ruffner, Emmalee Shelley, Jason Smith, Cole Szuba, Caleb Umstead and Patience VanCuren.

High school biology teacher Christine Lightner developed and directed the elective class that carries one-half credit and covers such topics as introduction to Pennsylvania’s mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, their identification, biology, habitat and ecology.

“Content is supplemented through on-line interactions, data collection and sharing, hands-on laboratory, filed and STEM experiences,” Lightner said.

With the assistance of Jody Groshek of the McKean County Conservation District, the second-semester students set up a 55-gallon tank with a chiller, high-flow filter, aerator and supplemental components.

“On Feb. 11, the class received 261 rainbow trout eggs, which were sorted and counted,” Lightner said. “The remaining 251 live eggs began their life cycle in Room 102.”

Lightner added, “During class, the students gathered, recorded and analyzed water chemistry data, fed the fish and continued to maintain a healthy environment for the developing trout.

“Students used their troubleshooting skills when necessary and have managed to raise about 110 trout that were released in Marvin Creek.”

Made possible by a partnership between the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, PA Trout in the Classroom is an interdisciplinary environmental educational program in which students in grades 3-12 learn about current and past impacts, management and protection and enhancement opportunities of Pennsylvania’s watersheds and cold water resources, while raising trout in the classroom.

Each TIC program has applications in environmental science, mathematics, social studies, language arts, fine arts and physical education. Students explore topics such as trout life cycles, aquatic adaptions, water resource conservation and watersheds.

All classrooms end the year by releasing their trout into a “Stocked Trout Waterway,” a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed.

Dating back to 2006, Trout in the Classroom in Pennsylvania began as a non-formal educational program, with offerings varying among individual teachers and program partners, such as local Trout Unlimited chapters, watershed associations and conservation organizations.