Raising trout - river watch C.E.U. - 5th grade
River Watch CEU students assisted in raising our Rainbow Trout, since there were meaningful connections between the macroinvertebrates, stream health, and the trout. By learning about stream health, we understood more of what our trout would need to survive once we successfully got them to the right phase to be released.
1. Our tank awaited the arrival of our Rainbow Trout eggs...and so did we. Until one day, they arrived. The water the eggs came in had warmed up just a bit, so we had to temper the water, using colder tank water, and an ice pack from the nurse's office, to cool the water down slowly so the eggs wouldn't be in shock when we put them in the tank water. Very EGG-citing!
2. Ta-da! The eggs had made it safely to their new home!
3. As we monitored the properties of the water, the eggs hatched, becoming alevin, and then were able to be released into the big tank to eat and grow.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! A special River Watch CEU student was just recognized by Dr. Foose, Superintendent of Schools, for her meticulous care of our trout - and for being such a conscientious and inspirational student at AES! Congrats!!!!
4. Our trout THRIVED under our care, and it was finally time to release them in the Middle Patuxent River, right down the street from Atholton. First the fish were prepped for transport, and then River Watch CEU students told the community what they had learned about monitoring a river using the biotic index.
5. Five stations were set up by the wonderful volunteers of Trout Unlimited, and many AES family members rotated through the stations, learning many things related to a healthy stream. The trout were finally set free into their natural stream habitat. it was a great day!