Alevin- March 12, 2012
Take a look at the Alevin video, taken by Katrina today. They look healthy!
Early February update from HQ
Happy February, TroutKids and teachers of TroutKids!
Here at headquarters, we have at least one hundred alevins hanging out in the far left corner of our tank and at least one hundred more eggs that are hatching! It’s exciting to watch these tiny trout develop; just yesterday, I quietly and patiently observed an alevin push through its cell membrane. Because of all the life in our tank, we have lots and LOTS of foam floating around the surface. All of us here at headquarters are taking turns to clean that foam out of the water. Both you and I know how important it is to keep that water clean for our young trout!
We will be posting pictures soon! Until then, please comment below and tell us how your trout tanks are doing!
-Megh @ HQ
To the Teachers of TroutKids!
It’s almost that time of year again…
We’re excited! Are you?! TroutKids is right around the corner, and if you’re viewing this, it’s likely that you have decided to participate (again) this year. We look forward to working with you!
You will notice that your school blogs have been updated and are ready to go. On staff this year is Megh, a tech-saavy educator who is thrilled to be of help to you while you use your TroutKids blog for technology integration in your classroom. There is some chatter around HQ about offering an afternoon workshop for teachers. Interested? Let Megh know! mrounds@pwd.org More information will follow soon.
Please take some time to familarize, or refamiliarize, yourselves with your school’s blog. Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Also, please make note of the 2011-2012 Program Requirements.
Take care, and we will be speaking soon!
Program Requirements
TroutKids Program 2011 – 2012
The TroutKids Program is intended to teach important lessons about Brook trout and Maine’s clean water habitat. The program is not intended to provide aquariums as stand-alone items with no related lessons. Teachers are encouraged to use the PWD-recommended resources to effectively deliver the learning objectives of the program.
Eligibility:
- Schools located within PWD’s service area or Sebago Lake watersheds are eligible for PWD’s Troutkids program.
- Schools must purchase approved equipment, including chiller, tank, filter, and miscellaneous supplies.
- One class per tank is eligible to participate in program. Some schools may receive an extension of approval to two classrooms per tank, so long as both classes participate equally in data collection and reporting, observation, and tank maintenance.
Teachers agree to the following:
- Will provide updated classroom info to PWD by November 30th;
- Will set up tank immediately following holiday break;
- Will have tanks operational by January 13;
- Will keep tank, water, and equipment clean;
- Will monitor and record temperature daily and update development chart by Friday of each week;
- Will monitor and record pH weekly;
- Will remove mortalities from tank daily;
- Will clean and safely store equipment after release day.
Technology Integration:
Students or teachers will:
- Post a photo of the operational tank during the first two weeks of January;
- Schedule student(s) to comment on Portland Water District TroutKids blog page at least once/week, beginning immediately after holiday break;
- Post the dates of first hatch, 50% hatch, and 100% hatch;
- Post a photo or drawing of the tank at least once/month;
- Post comments to prompts on blog site at least every other week;
- Post development numbers each week;
- Post ideas, art, and/or questions weekly on Blog.
Releases:
- No more than 2 classrooms/tank (50 students) will attend the release activities.
- Release dates will be arranged through PWD, but the day’s activities are the responsibility of the teacher.
- Teachers are responsible for organizing transportation to the release site.
- PWD staff may attend releases for schools complying with all requirements outlined above.
- PWD staff may attend releases for students with prior instruction re: release location, brook trout life cycle, stream ecology, etc. Teachers are expected to provide background instruction.
- Releases will not be scheduled for classrooms with less than one fry per student.
Responsibilities of PWD:
- Order and organize shipping arrangements for the aquarium, chiller, and accompanying equipment;
- Provide guidance and advice about maintenance, troubleshooting, and release of fish;
- Provide related learning materials;
- Coordinate all permits and fish release information as per Maine IF&W requirements;
- Arrange the pick up of eggs and delivery to the school, with prior notification to the teacher;
- Provide data collection forms and other necessary or useful documents;
- Maintain TroutKids blog and provide prompts, comment opportunities, and materials to integrate technology with TroutKids;
- When applicable, help to set up and organize fry releases;
- Work with the school to troubleshoot any equipment problems;
- Provide at least one classroom visit to teach students about trout anatomy and life cycle.
2011-2012 Trout Year
Welcome back, TroutKids and Teachers of TroutKids!
Hope your summer was terrific- did you go fishing? 
We here at HQ are looking forward to working with you this year to raise more trout friends— we’ll be in touch soon!
Lynne, Megh, and Katrina from TroutKids HQ
