Trout in the Classroom

Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is an environmental education program that was started over 20 years ago in which students raise trout from eggs to fry, monitor tank water quality, engage in stream habitat study, and learn to appreciate water resources as a means to foster a conservation ethic. BRDC provides the supplies, education and support for this program to teachers and students from tank set-up to fingerling release.

The program begins in October with tank set-up and the life cycle of our native brook trout. In creating a cold water habitat within a 55 gallon tank, the students learn aquaculture through rigorous water testing and the proper balance of bacteria and nutrients. Through the winter, the eggs that are delivered in November transform from alevin to fry. By spring, they have become fingerling trout. May sends us to the stream for habitat study and the release of those trout.

Release day is a big deal for students as they set free nearly 100 tiny brook trout after watching and caring for them over the span of an entire school year. This program emphasizes the importance of our watershed and our mission to inspire stewardship in our youth. Congratulations to Ms. Tignor’s 7th grade Explorer class for a job well done!

The Trout Population has Increased in Wilson Creek

Last week was absolutely beautiful and we couldn't have had a better time on Wilson Creek in Grayson County as the 7th grade students of Independence Middle and Grayson Highlands Schools and the 5th grade students of Piney Creek Elementary School released their trout.

Each year, several classes participate in the Trout in the Classroom Program. This program begins in the fall with tank set-up, water chemistry analysis and habitat discussions in relation to our native Brook trout. Then, in early winter, the classes receive the trout eggs and are instructed on the stages of development of the trout from egg to alevin and then to fingerlings. It is their challenge and responsibility to maintain an appropriate environment for the trout to survive until spring when they are released in a cold water stream that can support them.

The release is a fun and exciting day where the kids not only get to set their trout free but delve deeper into their natural habitat. This is done by putting on a pair of waders and boots and getting in the stream with seines and dip nets. Some scouring of the bottom reveals what lurks below and investigated further with hand lenses, microscopes and guide books.

This experiential, hands-ons program not only teaches the life cycles of fishes and macro-invertebrates but encourages our youth to get out and explore a new habitat and establishes the foundation for stewardship.

Fly Fishing during Galax Intersession

Nine eager young fellas joined BRDC for the week to learn all about fly fishing. For several hours each afternoon, we dove full force into the art of fly fishing. First thing was knowing the parts of the fly rod and reel. The students drew pictures and labeled them. We moved on to the three parts of the line and how to build a leader. Using paracord and a ring, they learned essential knots needed to build said leader and how to tie on a fly.

We moved on to aquatic insects and played relay games that enhanced this information. Using velcro cards and a "Castarget" replica of the water column, the guys were able to identify and match the life cycles of the three primary aquatic insects of the fly fishers world; mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly.

A full afternoon was spent perfecting the cast readying for our fishing day but first, they spent an afternoon in the creek. Using seines and nets, they tossed and turned over rocks to reveal what lurked underneath. They found live versions of the insects studied on the cards; mayflies, caddisflies, helgramites and water pennies and did their best to catch the few little minnows they spooked with their splashes!

Fly imitation is a large part of fly fishing, so this was incorporated into a day. All made their own Griffith's gnat dry fly and then set out to catch a lunker trout in Chestnut Creek. For this, the boys used the Japanese style, Tenkara Rod. Its ease and simplicity is a great option for the beginning fly fisher.

On the last day, these guys built their own leaders demonstrating their skills with the knots learned earlier in the week. This day was pond fishing using an Orvis 5 weight fly rod. They all did an excellent job of casting with few flies lost. ONE young man, hooked into a mighty trout that fought hard, jumped high and gave us all a thrill! 

Learning about Amphibians & Aquatic Insects

BRDC has been busy with education programs, working with Galax Middle School, Fries School, Fairview Elementary, Grayson Highlands, Independence Elementary.

Grayson County's fourth grade students participated in the Natural Heritage Program with an emphasis on salamanders, toads, and frogs. Students learned about salamanders commonly found in the Blue Ridge.  Using field guides, they researched different species of salamander and presented their discoveries to the class.  The Eastern hellbender was a favorite among the students, as they were shocked by its prehistoric features. Students enjoyed watching a video about the life history of hellbenders provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Fifth grade students in Grayson County schools learned about frogs and toads. Students illustrated the life cycle of amphibians, learned the difference between frogs and toads, and listened to the calls of some of Virginia's common species. Many students had heard the calls before, but often didn't know what animal made the calls. The Virginia Herpetological Society's website is a great resource for determining different frog and toad calls: https://goo.gl/v84gqS.

After learning the calls of the American bullfrog, spring peeper, and American toad, students played a Frog and Toad matching game. Using a Peterson Guidebook to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, students matched the species name, picture, and description together. 

Galax Middle School After School program has been learning all about aquatic species. BRDC brought aquatic insects from a local stream to the classroom where students got a first-hand look at the life found in our creeks. Students learned about the life cycle of the insects, and enjoyed fly tying with Executive Director Aaron Floyd. 

In-school programming keeps BRDC's staff busy, but it is great to work with such a variety grade levels and see the enjoyment and wonder on the children's faces. To stay connected with BRDC follow us on Instagram @blueridgediscoverycenter.

Fly Fishing in School?

National Fishing in Schools Program is a nationwide, in school program that teaches a positive, lifetime activity to students.

BRDC brought this national program to Grayson County High School boys ninth and tenth grade PE classes in December. Parts of the fly rod, fly reel and fly line; knots used to build leader; aquatic insects: mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies; fish species, fly casting and fly tying were part of the curriculum for the week.

In addition to basic casting skills and an understanding of aquatic habitat, the students learned stewardship through catching and releasing real "fake" fish. Each day, new skills and information were added in a hands-on fashion to reinforce the lesson. On the final day, all the classes used their knot tying skills to build their own leader. Attached to the tippet end of that leader was a Woolly Bugger, a fly that imitates many aquatic species, that they created. By the end of the week, students had achieved a skill level that allows them to go out to a stream and have confidence in catching a fish using a fly rod.

Fries School Investigates the New River

Friday, November 11, 2017, Ms. Blankenship's 7th graders from Fries School joined Blue Ridge Discovery Center's staff & volunteers for a day of Aquatic Adventure. Students rotated between stations set up along the New River, just below the school, and participated in citizen science activities.

The stations focused on different aquatic areas. They studied the macro-invertebrates of the New River and a small creek feeding the river. Water quality testing was completed on both the river and the creek.

All groups collected aquatic insects using seines. In order to do this, two students would hold the seine while two would scrape the substrate and turn over rocks for one minute. The specimens were then taken to a table for separation and identification using a dichotomous key. Water quality testers observed the weather, water flow, turbidity, and temperature of the air and water. They also measured pH, dissolved oxygen, and E. coli. of both the river and creek. 

The New River was full of aquatic insects; most abundant being three different species of damselfly larva. The creek presented the students with a chub, salamander, and over 30 snails! The water quality was found to be similar with the exception of the pH of the river being higher than that of the creek.   

Regardless of the cool temps and wind, students and staff had a great day!

MEGALOPTERA!

In recent news you may have seen that the largest aquatic insect in the world was recently discovered in China: Scientific American.  At first glance this is a rather frightening foreign creature, but did you know that it's equally intimidating cousin lives right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains? 

Inevitably, when the hot summer days set in, a campfire discussion comes to life about a mysterious flying finger-eating monster patrolling the skies after sunset!  Well these stories are not too far off base.  Our rivers and warm creeks play host to the Eastern Dobsonfly that is a part of the Megalopteran order (Large Wing) and Corydalidae family.  As aquatic macroinvertebrates they live the majority of their life under water.  Even though they start out rather tiny, they grow quickly into 2"-3" ferocious predators in the underwater aquatic insect world.  Locals refer to them as "hellgrammites" and seek them as prime fish bait for smallmouth bass.   Each summer maturing larvae crawl out of the rivers to shelter along the water's edge where they pupate.  From there they hatch into adults, flying like crashing helicopters, seemingly erratic and with abandon.  

Dobsonfly, credit: Wikipedia Commons

They look intimidating with their long tusk-like mandibles and can easily getting tangled up in your hair causing panic in any honest person, but they are actually relatively harmless to humans.  As a matter of fact, they don't consume food as adults! Rather, they use the large mandibles solely for mating!  I still practice caution when handling them and hold them tight just behind the head like I would a crawdad.

Hellgrammite

You'll find these attracted to street lights, flying at night or resting first thing in the morning.  They are primarily nocturnal and if you've ever sat with a lantern riverside in the summer you probably have had hellgrammites grace you with their presence. 

Anytime I see an adult hellgrammite I also keep an eye out for the other mid-summer hatch of giants: the "Hex Fly"

Hexagenia limbata 

Grayson Highlands School and Grayson Highlands State Park go fishing...

On June 12th, Blue Ridge Discovery Center's Roald Kirby and Scott Jackson-Ricketts assisted the school and park on a fishing expedition at Cabin Creek, in the park.  This was not planned by BRDC, but we were happy to bring our Fish Bugs program in support of the event. 

We did not know until the night before, that 55 grade school age kids were to be on hand.  Knowing the narrow path that is Cabin Creek trail, and the lack of fishing space, we discussed strategy just before the two busloads of kids arrived. 

There were plenty of adults on hand to ensure that this many kids could be managed.  So off we went, down the trail, carrying the Fish Bugs tools, and at least 30 spin casting rod and reel outfits. 

Chaotic would best describe our initial efforts to organize groups of kids assigned to the two stations we set up.  But, frankly, when we did, all went very well.  Roald helped with the fishing component, sharing information about the habitat, food sources, water quality and temperature; while Scott managed the aquatic invertebrate collection and identification tables. 

Because there were so many kids, a lot of time was allowed for free exploration, which was exciting for the kids, who continued to find critters and questions to go with. 

This second picture is evidence of the chaos, given that it was quite difficult to stand in one position.  But it also exemplifies the moment.  No fish took the bait.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Big bugs...big fish?

Yes, that's a stonefly!

Blue Ridge Discovery Center launches a new program next week called Project Fishbugs. Stay tuned to learn more about the fantastic invertebrates that lurk in the waters of the Blue Ridge highlands! For a schedule of this spring's Fishbugs activities, see BRDC's website:

http://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/events/