![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
With Earth Day approaching next month, Silver Creek High School (SCHS) AP Environmental students and teacher, Ashlee Runyon, a science teacher here at SCHS, have been working hard on a project that connects students to local watersheds and conservation efforts by raising trout from eggs, with the goal of releasing them on Earth Day.
This is the first year of the project, initiated by a former teacher and engineer from SCHS. The project is part of a larger initiative involving 20-25 schools in Colorado, with only two high schools in SVVSD participating. The project, which is also being hosted by only one other St. Vrain School (Niwot High School), is a conservation project for fish, and educates students about their local watershed.
Runyon explained that although this project doesn’t truly align with the traditional AP curriculum, it’s still a good way to connect students to the local watershed and conservation efforts present around us.
“This doesn’t necessarily connect to the AP curriculum, but I decided to do this more just to give students a real-world connection to like their local watersheds here. So though it’s not necessarily part of the AP curriculum, I think it’s relevant, and I feel like the students have engaged and given them a way to be able to connect to their local watersheds,” Runyon said.
This unique conservation project begins with a large shipment of trout eggs. The class started with around 150 to 200 eggs, which they then have to take care of and nurture in order for them to hatch. The AP class had to monitor all of the conditions within the tank, in order for the fish to thrive. The conditions are the main deciding factor in how many of the fish hatch, and eventually go on to survive.
Alex Vasquez, SCHS junior, is a student in AP Environmental, and participated in the conservation project.
“It connects [to the curriculum] because we learn about ecosystems, water quality, and how humans affect the environment. Taking care of fish helps us see this in real life.” Vasquez said. “To do so, we take care of fish in a tank by feeding them and cleaning [the tank] every day. The main goal is to keep them healthy and then release them.”
Not all of the fish hatch and survive. Silver Creeks’ class started off with 150-200 eggs, and now has only 10 left; however, there are some schools that only have a few left, or none at all.
“A lot of the eggs don’t hatch, and then you grow them until they’re fried. And right now we have 10 left, which is certainly not the best, but certainly not the worst,” Runyon said.
Students are engaged in data collection, tank maintenance, and have been showing increased interest in the project itself. Each student has to take turns rotating through positions, whether it’s collecting data based on their fish, or keeping tank conditions clean and stable.
Ellie Buehler, SCHS junior, is another student in AP Environmental, and is also engaged in the project.
“I think this project is engaging if you get engaged with it. I like to go look at the fish everyday and see how they are doing which keeps me interested. I have also taken the data and cleaned the tank which has given me more insight into the process as a whole and has kept me involved,” Buehler said.
This unique project’s goal is to inspire students to engage in meaningful conversation acts, and to get involved with their local watershed and community. Through the successes and challenges of this project, students endured a unique learning experience, connecting them to something much bigger than what goes on inside the classroom.
