MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A new program at Coyote Valley Elementary School is giving children a chance to learn about fish both in the classroom and in the creek.

The first trout release program for Coyote Valley Elementary School third grade class began Feb. 28.

That’s when sponsor Tony Blyleven, a director of the Resource Conservation District, or RCD, brought 60 rainbow trout eggs to two classes at the school.

The trout eggs came from the Mt. Shasta Hatchery.

Blyleven attended a Sportsman Expo and learned about trout release programs, deciding to make the project happen at Coyote Valley Elementary School.

It took $400 for each set up but, “the most trying part of the project was building fish tanks with the protective styrofoam around it,” said Blyleven.

Eric Schaffer and Jon Prather’s third grade classes were involved in the six-week long project.

The students kept a daily journal on the progress: from eggs to alevin (still with yolk attached) to fry to juvenile to adult. The trout released were in the fry stage.

Sierra Cude, 9, wrote in her journal: “We have three baby fish. One egg keeps moving too. The babies have egg yolk on their belly. The baby fish is hiding from big fish.” She went on to describe the food fed to the fish as well as a drawing of the food ingredients.

Students monitored the temperature of the tanks and noted the health of each batch daily.

Schaffer said the most difficult part of the project for him was “arriving in the morning and finding several dead fry at the bottom of the tank. This did, however, open the door for hypothesizing why some of the fish died.”

On Tuesday, the day set for the release, the two classes walked to Putah Creek, a 1.4-mile round trip from their classrooms.

Along the walk both teachers reminded students to respect their surroundings and to make as little noise as possible so as not to upset the area’s wildlife.

At the creek, students paired up and received one fry in a freshly washed cup, which they then released and watched where the fry swam off to. Most of the fry sought shelter under rocks.

Hoping the temperature of the creek was near optimal temperature for survival, Schaffer took along a thermometer to test the water, which was 57.4 degrees Fahrenheit, mid-range for survival.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife was also involved, sending Game Warden Mike Pascoe to answer students’ questions about the relationship of habitat and environment.

“He put on a very informational slideshow and did activities with our classes to help them understand conservation and game/species management,” said Prather.

Pascoe also happily released a fry.

“The best thing about raising rainbow trout was releasing them. It was really cool watching them swim away and hide under rocks,” said student Dylan Caviness, 9.

Elizabeth Davis, also age 9, felt the opposite. “I worry about the fry being eaten by larger fish and predators.”

“It has been an awesome project. We are planning on doing it for years to come,” said Prather.

Schaffer also feels the same. “I will definitely do this project again. I get to keep the aquarium and equipment for next year. Having Fish and Wildlife Officer Pascoe with us was a huge bonus. I hope to have him accompany us next year as well.”

At the end of Pascoe’s visit, he proclaimed each student Junior Wardens, presenting them with their own sticker badge.

On the walk back from the creek, students picked up trash along the route, making it a great ending to a great project.

Lucy Llewellyn Byard is a Lake County News correspondent. She lives in Lucerne.