Vanderhoof is a bustle today as students from across School District 91 converge on Riverside Park for the annual sturgeon release.
SD91 Career and Trades program Coordinator Darren Carpenter says they have 620 students taking part, coming from as far as Burns Lake.
Each student is getting a chance to release their own fish. “And then the follow-up is the students will be able to hopefully track their fish as they progress through their school career. If that fish is caught again they can check the website out and see how the fish is doing.”
He says the day “completes several circles” and puts a bow on classroom learning, including a locally developed sturgeon curriculum.
“Getting students out here, touching it hands on and seeing all the stuff in action; we have biologists here, CNC students from the natural resource program… the hands on piece is critical.”
Darren Carpenter added that SD91 is taking steps to make it easier for teachers to get students out of the classrooms more often “even if it’s just to scoop up some water from the river and look at the critters.”
The release is taking place in Riverside Park until 3pm. The public is free to join.
