submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
Berlin High School Seniors Cullen O’Brien and James Mayer pull out a clipboard and scribble “42” in a column under dozens of similar numbers. They’re recording the temperature of the water in a large fish tank located in one of the science lab classrooms at their school.
“The temperature has to stay pretty cold. Look! That one there is Frank,” said Mayer, pointing to one of the largest trout in the tank. This young trout is maybe an inch or two in length.
O’Brien and Mayer are conducting their daily upkeep activities, including tank regulation and feeding, for their “Trout in the Classroom” program. This independent study project – developed by O’Brien and Mayer themselves – requires the students to raise trout from eggs to fry, monitoring the tank along the way. On April 22 – Earth Day – they will release the trout into the Little Hoosic River and teach Berlin Elementary students about the trout life cycle.
“Trout in the Classroom” is intended to be a legacy project whereby a new set of seniors will raise trout each year. O’Brien and Mayer will help in the participant selection process.
“The next set of people to take this on will need to be self-guided and responsible,” said O’Brien. “Otherwise it’s just a fish tank.”
The project also includes a fundraising component. The public can “adopt a trout” for $5 to benefit The Michael G. Richardson Memorial Award. Richardson was a Living Environment teacher at Berlin High School who passed away last year from pancreatic cancer at the age of 53.
“Mr. Richardson loved to fish, and he was such a great teacher,” said O’Brien. “We’re doing this in the interest of him because he was a great teacher, and he really understood his students and loved what he did.”
The program is a partnership with the Trout Unlimited Homewaters Chapter, which donated a $650 temperature regulation device, and Grafton Lakes State Park. O’Brien and Mayer also wrote and presented their own project proposal to High School Principal Dr. Cathie Allain.
“The students really initiated this whole thing on their own,” said Berlin Science Department Chair and Living Science Teacher Audrey Vanderhoef. “It’s something that they’re really interested in, and I’ll do anything I can to support that behavior.”
With this program, O’Brien and Mayer gain experience with science research in preparation for college. Mayer anticipates going to college for chemical engineering, and O’Brien is interested in the medical field.
It also promotes a conservation ethic and an appreciation for water resources that the pair hopes will resonate with others.
“We’re giving back to the community and supporting the trout population for everyone to enjoy,” said Mayer.
To adopt a trout, contact Audrey Vanderhoef at avanderhoef@berlincentral.org. Adoptees receive a certificate of appreciation, their name posted next to the tank, recognition on the school website, monthly progress updates and photos and an invitation to the April 22 release near the Berlin High School/ Middle School campus.