Jefferson County Volunteer Opportunity

If you are looking for a really, really interesting project to earn some volunteer hours, this is a doozy! As a volunteer with this class, you’ll be helping with water quality testing (pH, DO, etc) at Flowing Springs Park. These students are already raising trout in their classroom! If you can only volunteer once, go for it! If you have the time volunteer on a regular basis you’ll be amazed at the relationships you develop with the students. If you are interested, contact Carolyn Thomas at the info below.
-Ellen

Students at in 7th grade at Wildwood Middle School in Jefferson County will be engaged in a year-long to answer the question "Can brook trout be reintroduced into Flowing Springs?" The brook trout, West Virginia’s only native trout, have been extirpated from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia due to degradation of habitat and poor water quality. Through classroom activities, research, service learning, and collaboration with community partners, students will analyze the specific needs of brook trout with respect to water quality, land use and ecosystems.They will then participate in the reclamation of habitat for fish while building awareness and connection to Flowing Springs Park in Ranson, West Virginia. Students will develop technical science skills to examine the life cycle and habitat needs of brook trout in order to assess the feasibility of reintroducing brook trout to Flowing Springs Park. Through our existing “Trout in the Classroom” program, students will raise brook trout in a cold water aquarium from egg to fry stage, while studying the life cycle of trout. Community partners are needed to work with the students in and out of the classroom. Students will be in the field at Flowing Springs beginning in September and continuing throughout the year. It is anticipated that most field work will be conducted on Wednesday mornings (9-11:30). Partners are especially needed in the field to help students with water testing protocols, equipment usage, plantings, etc. and to serve as chaperons, providing extra "eyes and ears".

If you are interested please contact Carolyn Thomas at crthomas25443@gmail.com.