Elementary students raise and release trout

Raleigh Academy 4th and 5th graders released their trout fingerlings into the Clearwater Lake Friday. They’ve been raising the animals in the classroom- which started as 301 eggs in December. Students learned about the trout life cycle, Minnesota waters, and conservation throughout the school year alongside the fish.

Katie Rulhand, Raleigh’s Steam Specialist Teacher, explains, “We had to do quite a big of chemistry for this project and testing the water to make sure that the levels were safe for the fish and adjusting accordingly.”

“It’s just a hands on experience and environmental education that we really couldn’t pass up.”

This curriculum is park of the Minnesota Trout in the Classroom Program (MITC) from Minnesota Trout Unlimited. This is Raleigh Academy’s first year participating in the program. Funds came from the Lone Wolf Fund through the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.