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Genuine
fish story
By Bob Chappell
Special to the Rappahannock News
A science teacher at the elementary school is using a Headwaters foundation grant for a fish (growing) expedition.
It all began during a fishing outing last summer for RCES 5th Grade Science Teacher Charles Way and a new friend on the Shenandoah River. The new buddy, a member of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited, had TU contact Way about its ‘'Trout in the Classroom” project. Way embraced this new program that he felt would help him teach the Virginia Science Standards of Learning (SOL) and give his students hands-on experience and knowledge about protecting the environment.
Way decided to apply to the Headwaters Public Education Foundation for a $1,000 grant to , purchase the equipment and materials necessary to start the RCES branch of “Trout in the Classroom.” In October, Way received Headwaters’ approval for the grant and set out to order the required items.
The equipment consists of a 33 gallon fish tank, a “chiller” to maintain water temperatures at . 56 degrees F, a filter with a UV light to kill germs, water circulators, etc. Materials include fish food and water testing kits.
Next, Way found a supplier for trout eggs. The supplier, OmdorfFs Rainbow Trout Farm, located near Strasburg, informed Way during the Fall that it was too late to grow trout from eggs, but that OmdorfFs would donate 125 tiny trout about 1/3 inch long to the project.
After setting up the small “aquaculture” operation in a corner of his class, Way turned the trout growing operation over to his students. Teams of students take turns daily, under Way’s direction, changing the water, feeding the fish, checking for water purity and temperature, and watching for dead fish. (So far no fish have died.)
The testing, similar to that conducted in area streams and rivers for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), consists of measuring pH, checking nitrate levels, and monitoring ammonia content of the water samples from the tank.
The students really eryoy these tasks and are excited about the project. When asked about the trout-growing project, one of Way’s students, Ben, responded that “trout have to have precise water. If it is too hot or dirty, they will die.”
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