KETTLE
CREEK TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM
DISCOVERY PROGRAM
|
NOVEMBER
30, 2004
 |
Kettle
Creek Watershed Association (KCWA) and Trout Unlimited
are pleased to announce a new program in the West Branch
Susquehanna valley, Kettle Creek Trout In the Classroom
Discovery Program. This program will introduce Renovo
Elementary students to one of their local watersheds,
Kettle Creek, through the unique experience of raising
trout in the classroom while also discovering the interrelationships
within a watershed community! Not only will the students
be raising the trout, but they will be discovering what
a watershed is, impacts to watersheds, history of their
watershed and life within, how to use math within their
watershed and in-class (predictions, estimations, planning
of riparian zone plantings, trout management tools, habitat
management tools), they will also be writing, photographing
and creating a presentation and/or booklet of their experience
throughout the school year. At the end of the school year
students will prepare to release their trout into a stream
that they have completed water quality tests, habitat
assessments and measurements on. These studies ensure
that where their trout are placed they will survive.
Throughout
this program students will reach many of the math, science,
environmental and ecological, and reading/writing standards
set forth by the PA State Education Board. They will not
just be reading about watersheds and their interrelationships,
they will actually be conducting hands-on experiments,
projects and field work within Kettle Creek. This program
will also introduce students to occupations that they
may consider in the future through presentations and activities
provided by state/local agencies. All outstanding projects
completed both in-class and in the field will be available
for your viewing on the Kettle Creek Watershed Association
website!
Their
first experience through this program was on November
17, 2005 with an in-class introduction to what a watershed
is, impacts to watersheds, what a riparian zone is and
how to plan a riparian planting. The students actually
measured out their superficial riparian zone multiplied
and divided to discover how many trees they would need
for their area. After finding out how many trees they
needed they read about native trees/shrubs to discover
where to place the trees on their riparian layout. The
students enjoyed this exercise and were able to apply
what they learned in-class to their field experience the
following day.
On
Friday November 18, 2005 the class took their first field
trip into Kettle Creek Watershed to plant 200 trees within
Kettle Creek’s riparian area. Alongside their teachers,
parents, Clinton County Conservation District and members
from the Kettle Creek Watershed Association they planted
all day with a short hot cocoa break and lunch in between!!
These students began to have a sincere interest in “their”
watershed and what they can do to help stabilize banks,
provide trout habitat and other wildlife habitat throughout
Kettle Creek. In the future they will be able to drive
through Kettle Creek and know they helped to enhance,
preserve, monitor and protect this watershed so that many
others may enjoy this wilderness gem for years to come.
Following the planting and lunch the students learned
more about Kettle Creek and it’s residents by visiting
Kinney’s Country store where they observed beautiful mounts
of native wildlife found in Kettle Creek and enjoyed some
tasty, hand dipped ice cream!!!
This
program has been made possible by the following supporters:
Kettle Creek Watershed Association, National Trout Unlimited,
Keystone Central School District, Northwest PA Chapter
of Trout Unlimited, Lloyd Wilson Chapter of Trout Unlimited,
Kettle Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Cedar Springs
Trout Hatchery, Western Clinton County Sportsmen’s Association,
Clinton County Conservation District.
If
you have an interest in assisting with this new program
in any way please contact Amidea Daniel, Kettle Creek
Project Coordinator / Trout Unlimited Kettle Creek Project
Coordinator at (570)726-3118 or adaniel@tu.org.
