Blue Lake >> For weeks high school students observed, fed and cared for rainbow trout in their classrooms. Thursday afternoon, they concluded their project by releasing the fish at Pine Acres Resort.
With eggs provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, freshman and sophomore students from Clear Lake High School and Hance Community School learned about the fish’s life cycle, behaviors and habitat. Among other activities was creating clay models of the fish and drawing what they eat.
“Students have totally taken the responsibility,” Hance teacher Deb Weinmelt said. “From feeding them to taking their temperature.”
She described the type of hands-on education as experiential learning.
“Any time students do experiential learning, things really come to life for them,” Weinmelt said.
Thursday’s outdoor activities began with a lunch, followed by fishing and one final observation of the trout before students released them into the lake.
