BROOKFIELD - A young boy tips a paper cup to release young brook trout into a Brookfield river before saying farewell.
"Bye, bye my little friends," he said.
One by one, Grade 3 and 4 students at Brookfield Elementary School went down the riverbank and released nearly 300 brook trout they raised during the past three-and-a-half months. It is part of the Fish Friends program sponsored by the Atlantic Salmon Federation and co-ordinated locally by the Cobequid Salmon Association.
"I learned a lot of things about fish," said Cameron DeGroot. "I learned that the baby fish are called Alevin and the dots in the eggs are actually their eyes."
He said Tuesday was a sad day after spending so much time caring for the fish.
"We've been doing this for a long time and now the fish are gone," he said.
The students released the fish into the Creamery Brook, which flows into the Stewiacke River.
Dick Huggard, a Cobequid Salmon Association member who co-ordinated the program locally, said it helps youth understand the lifecycle of young fish. It is also hoped the youth appreciate nature more after participating in the program.
"Things they learn as young people in school will carry through their life and will have greater appreciation for conservation and how important all things in nature are to the wellbeing of mankind," he said.
The program is incorporated into the science curriculum for students in grades 4 to 6. The program was also offered this year at Winding River Consolidated Elementary School in Stewiacke.
"It's an excellent program," said Huggard, who has been involved for a number of years. "I look forward to the enthusiasm of the children."
DeGroot was proud of the work the class has done. He spent about 10 minutes going through a power point presentation he made on his laptop computer that chronicles the growth of the fish.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
