A group of 24 students from Mrs. Frick's science classes participated in the club, raising the trout from eggs and then releasing them into their natural habitat.
In May, the sixth grade Trout Team traveled to a river near Rockford to release their trout back into the wild. This was part of a Trout in the Classroom Program that helps to teach students the importance of the environment and the living organisms that are a part of it. The eggs were obtained in November and were raised by a group of 24 students from Mrs. Frick's science classes who applied to be members of the Trout Team. They learned about the proper chemical levels and water temperature needed in the tank. The trout hatched from eggs that began at about 1 millimeter in size and grew to roughly 6 centimeters long. About 70 eggs survived and the fish were released into their natural habitat.
During the program, an entomologist visited all of the Science classes to provide further information and education about the trout. On the trip to release the trout, students were able to wade in the water and retrieved insects from the water that they also had seen in the classroom. The students were amazed at seeing this natural environment. It was a true learning experience that transferred from classroom to the real, natural environment!