GILLETTE, Wyo. — More than two dozen Wyoming schools participated in the Trout in the Classroom program through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, raising and releasing fingerling trout in multiple fisheries.
Per Game and Fish, hundreds of trout found homes in Wyoming waters after being raised for a semester in 28 classrooms, where students learned concepts of ecology, population biology, water quality, fish anatomy and conservation from egg to fingerling stages.
Once the trout reached the fingerling stage, Trout in the Classroom participants released their fish into one of 12 designated community fisheries under the supervision of wildlife managers throughout April and May, Game and Fish says.
One school, St. Mary’s Catholic School in Cheyenne, facilitated a few releases into Sloans Lake at Lions Park.
“We had the joy of hosting eyed-eggs brought to us by the Trout Unlimited organization. Students excitedly observed them each day watching as they grew into alevin, fry, and fingerlings,” St. Mary’s educator Christine Bronder said in a statement. “We released our rainbow trout with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department into Sloans Lake at Lions Park. Maybe one day you’ll go fishing there and catch our big one!”
Per Game and Fish, bringing fish directly into classrooms helps students develop a new understanding and appreciation for their local fisheries and aquatic life cycles, and the program reinforces science curricula by providing hands-on experience.
Through the program, educators can access customizable lesson plans that guide their students through the life cycle of a trout and can tailor the program to meet their educational needs. It is an opportunity to engage students in hands-on STEM activities that expose them to the natural environment and conservation careers.
