Fifth-grade students at the Henniker Community School with Mrs. Richardson are participating in the Trout in the Classroom project, an environmental education program, sponsored by NH Fish and Game, National Trout in the Classroom, and NH Trout Unlimited. The mission of the project is to protect watersheds and brook trout, a species of concern. The program began at HCS in January when these citizen scientists began raising trout from eggs to fry. The students monitor tank quality, study stream habitat, and learn to appreciate water resources. The goal is to release the fish into the Contoocook River in Henniker later this spring.
During the first week of April, the students learned about Gyotaku or Japanese fish prints. Dating back to the mid-1800s, Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese method of printing fish. The Gyotaku was used by fishermen to record their catch and has since become its own art form.