Margaretville Third Graders Release Trout into Local Watershed

MARGARETVILLE — A hands-on environmental education program reached an exciting milestone this spring as Mrs. Denise Asher’s third grade class at Margaretville Central School released 52 fingerling trout into the Delaware County watershed just across the street from the school.

The release marked the culmination of months of work through the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program, which began in October. Supported by a grant from the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC), students raised brown trout from approximately 100 eggs to fingerling size—about one inch in length—carefully monitoring their development along the way.

The New York Trout in the Classroom program is a conservation-focused environmental education initiative for students of all grade levels. Participants raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in their classrooms, closely monitoring water conditions such as temperature, clarity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia levels, and pH to ensure survival. Through this process, students develop a deeper understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the connections between trout, water resources, the environment, and their own role in protecting it.

Throughout the program, Margaretville students engaged in weekly observations and lessons connected to the trout’s growth. They explored the trout life cycle, experimented with feeding different sizes of food, measured growth, compared physical markings, and learned about the food chain and the importance of maintaining healthy water systems. The experience provided meaningful, real-world connections to science and environmental stewardship.

“This has been our most successful year yet in terms of fish survival,” said program organizers. “We are proud of the care and commitment our students demonstrated and are grateful for the opportunity to continue this work.”

Margaretville Central School looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Trout in the Classroom program. The district extends its sincere appreciation to the Catskill Watershed Corporation for its generous grant support, as well as to Floyd Knapp and John O’Reilly for their assistance with tank maintenance and helping facilitate the trout release.