The youth of today hold the future of fisheries conservation in their hands. However, several generations of Americans are unaware of the fact the natural resource agencies including the Fish and Wildlife Service can’t go it alone when it comes to stewardship of our waters, aquatic species and their habitats. During the short history of fisheries and aquatic species conservation programs in this country, there has never been a greater need for passionate and empowered citizen conservationists. The US Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program in the Midwest Region is committed to engaging, educating and employing young people. We provide opportunities to learn about fish, other aquatic species and their habitats through: outdoor learning areas, field study opportunities, outdoor recreation events, and developing innovative ways of delivering science literacy programs and promoting connections with nature. The Midwest Region Fisheries Program also engages youth and adults through our Friends Groups, partnerships with States and Tribes and through various youth employment programs. In doing so all of us will better understand the world around us, as well as how to enjoy and steward it for conservationists yet to come.

Engage:

Staff from the Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery host students from University of Shiga Prefecture
(USP) in Japan. The students are part of a three week summer program between Lake Superior State
University (LSSU) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and the University of Shiga Prefecture (USP). LSSU
provides Shiga Prefecture’s undergraduate students hands on field experiences in Environmental
Science in the Lake Superior watershed and adjacent areas. The students and professors are led on a
tour of the hatchery and this year a mass marking trailer was still on site for the students to explore.
Inside the trailer, students learned how lake trout fingerlings are processed and receive a code-wire-
tag and an adipose fin clip identifying them as a hatchery raised fish. The group also examined the
hatchery's water filtration systems including the traveling screen and drum filtration systems.

Visits to National Fish Hatcheries often provide the first of many memorable
outdoor experiences for students. Credit: USFWS

This year’s tour group was comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in several fields of study including; Ecosystem Studies in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Planning in
Environmental Science, Regional Studies in Human Science, Design and Architecture in Environmental Science, Human Relations in Human Culture, Food Science and Nutrition, and Mechanical Systems
Engineering. The students have many questions and it is always a pleasure to show them how USFWS National Fish Hatcheries support fisheries conservation and restoration, not only in the Great Lakes
Region, but across this country.

Educate:

In its fourth year “Sturgeon in the Classroom” kicked off this month with one new classroom receiving
a sturgeon; this brings the total classrooms to seven. Sturgeon in the Classroom is a program at Genoa
National Fish Hatchery (NFH) that allows teachers to bring a live Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
into their classroom. They can then incorporate the sturgeon into lesson plans and give students the
responsibility of taking care of their new classroom friend. This year we welcome Summit Environmental
Elementary School on Lacrosse’s French Island to our group. Currently we are working to resolve
some water quality issues and will have their tank up and going in January. The 5th grade class of Erica
Rassmussen will be housing their sturgeon.

Students carefully introduce themselves to the newest members of their
class. Credit: USFWS

The biology class of Eric Cummings is our lone high school class. Their presentations have been altered to be more career and professionally oriented. Eric along with the Kindergarten class of Erica Johnson and the AM and PM 4-K classes of Landon Harger make-up our Kickapoo School District constituents. The Viroqua School District also has two participants, Brian Buening and Lori Lomas. Lori teaches 1st grade and Brian has 5th graders. Last but not least Bethany Seiser and her 4th graders are watching over the sturgeon at the North Crawford School District.

The goal of the Sturgeon in the Classroom program is to teach children of any age about Genoa NFH and the restoration programs that we are associated with. From these programs we hope that the children can develop an understanding of how the Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations work to maintain ecosystems and natural resources. This could then lead them down a career path and will hopefully teach them to be more ecologically conscious adults.

Employ:

One highlight of youth employment in the Midwest Region Fisheries program is the Columbia Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) local student job placement and mentoring program for middle and
high school students called “Career Awareness Related Experience” (CARE).

Through this program, the newest “River Biologist in Training” Kyle Calcote is paid by the city of
Columbia and earns credit towards his G.E.D. While working at the Columbia FWCO, Kyle will gain
valuable hands-on experience assisting fisheries field crews with equipment repair and maintenance, as
well as field data collection. In the few weeks since Kyle has joined the Columbia FWCO, he has been a
tremendous asset to the office. Kyle is a quick study, is extremely motivated and takes great pride in the
quality of his work – all the redeeming characteristics of a muddy river biologist! This is the fifth year the
office has partnered with the CARE organization. Welcome aboard, Kyle!

Kyle Calcote

CARE student Kyle Calcote is all smiles with the power washer as he
admires his handy work. Credit: USFWS

My name is Kyle Calcote. I am 17 years old and go to Hickman High School in Columbia. I have grown up out here in Missouri, but was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi. I have juggled around ideas of what I would like to become when I am older but my top two still remain. I would like to be a highway patrol officer or a conservation agent. However, a third option of working for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grows more and more appealing by the hour as I work here at Columbia FWCO through the CARE program. I really like the friendly staff but, to be honest, I love the beautiful trucks and boats!

For more information about youth employment opportunities and conservation education programs within the USFWS Midwest Region Fisheries program contact Tim Smigielski, Regional Fisheries Conservation Education Coordinator at tim_smigielski@fws.gov or at (231) 584-3540.