United for Trout

After months of swimming around in a glass-enclosed home, 100 native brook trout rode a school bus to Collier’s Creek earlier this month, and discovered a whole new world. Raised from eggs in a Rockbridge County High School Agriculture classroom, the fish entered their new stream with considerable trepidation, but their student handlers encouraged them forth. Congratulations to all the students in Ms. Gwen Gosney’s Ag/Foresty program for a successful launch! 

This is the first year RCHS has participated in the Trout-In-The-Classroom program, a national initiative of Trout Unlimited that Boxerwood has facilitated with local schools for many years. “It’s a great program,” commented Boxerwood Operation Director Hannah West, manager of the local efforts. “Growing up with Boxerwood, kids learn how to protect our streams and rivers and why that’s important. Raising brook trout is one way to put that learning into action, and to develop a closer connection with the natural world.” 

According to West, brook trout are native to the colder, pristine streams in the Rockbridge area. “Keeping the fish alive in their tanks requires careful attention to their needs,” said West, noting that care continues on the release day when students test water in Colliers Creek to check oxygen levels, temperature, pH levels, and other indicators of water quality. “Fortunately, Colliers Creek provides good habitat,” she said, noting that release of the brook trout requires a state permit. That permit will come in handy next month when children from Central Elementary School also complete a brook trout release at this location. “Hats off to Teresa Torrence and the 5th grade teachers and students for their annual efforts,” said West. “By now it’s a Central tradition!” Over many years, Rockbridge classrooms have successfully launched more than 1,000 native brook trout into local streams – that’s impact.