Moosehead Region Fishing Report: August 23, 2007
In 2005, the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) received a federal grant to provide natural resource based programs for students from kindergarten through grade 12. The Maine Woods Explorers initiative was established with this grant, and Selena Tardif was hired to be the Director of Education to develop and supervise the project. A rich variety of programming and partnerships serving young children through teenagers throughout Piscataquis County operates from the Maine Woods Explorers base in downtown Greenville.
The Greenville staff had an opportunity to spend last Friday morning with the Selena Tardif, Cindy Noyes, and 11 of their Maine Woods Explorers at Gravel Pit Pond in Little Moose Twp. The group was made up of kids ranging from 5 to 11, and they traveled from near and far to participate in last weeks program. Two individuals Brooke and Matthew Tardif ventured north from Biddeford, as did Morganne Lanier who trekked from Guilford. Rounding out this group of explorers were Keegan and Law Hinkley, Alec Moore, Pete Shelton, John and Tommy Watt, Nick Foley, and Evan Sullivan all from Greenville.
On Friday this group of explorers had a chance to see some of the gear that we as fisheries biologists use to help manage the fisheries resources throughout the state. They saw the different types of nets we use, minnow traps, water quality gear, and watercraft. Prior to meeting with the group, we had collected some minnows and crayfish for the kids to look at. One activity we did with the kids was a hi-tech game of hide-and-seek. The group had a chance to use our radio telemetry gear to locate some tags that we had placed around the pond. They had to listen carefully to determine which direction the loudest beep was coming from as we closed in on the location of the tag. After locating our tags it was onto bigger and more exciting things, “ snack time”. After some needed refreshment we moved onto the next phase of the day. As we all know there is no substitute for some hands on, getting wet, and really into your work experience. So the kids were given some nets and buckets and 30 minutes to collect anything and everything from the pond that would fit in their nets and at the end of 30 minutes we took time out to review and talk about what they had collected. There was a large assortment of aquatic critters, which included a variety of minnows, aquatic insects, frogs, tadpoles, and freshwater mussels. At the end of the morning we talked about other types of animals that might live in a pond such a Gravel Pit Pond but were not collected. These explorers came up with some very good answers including, snails, turtles, and “blood suckers”.
It was a pleasure meeting with this group of youngsters as they were full of energy and asked lots of good questions. Our hats off to the NREC and its staff for providing such a great opportunity for the young people in the Moosehead Region to enjoy and learn more about the outdoors. Anyone wishing to learn more about NREC and the programs they offer can call 1(207) 695-3705 or email them at (info@NRECmoosehead.org ) or check out their website at www.naturalresourceeducationcenter.org.
