Saint John of God Community Services – New Jersey
Archbishop Damiano School

Evelyn Vargas takes part in the Trout in the Classroom project.

 Students at the Archbishop Damiano School are helping to re-establish trout in New Jersey’s rivers. Through the Trout in the Classroom project our students have the opportunity to raise trout from eggs, care for them as they grow, and then release them into the wild.

The project began in September with the installation of a special refrigerated aquarium. Fertilized eggs were delivered. Students then sorted viable from non-viable eggs (pictured). The viable eggs were placed in the aquarium. The eggs soon hatched. Students are currently testing the water for appropriate pH and ammonia levels (pictured). The trout will reach full size in February when they will be released.

The release of trout coincides with the beginning of the Quail in the Classroom project in which students raise quails, the New Jersey state bird, for release into state forests.

Saint John of God Community Services – New Jersey is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency providing educational, therapeutic and vocational programs for people with disabilities, inclusive community daycare and grant-funded job services for people with barriers to employment.