The Environmental Club from St. Mary’s School in Crown Point recently enjoyed a morning of fall fishing and experiencing hands-on activities featuring all they have been learning about native and invasive species. Students, families, and staff members journeyed to southern Lake County to enjoy some time at one of their principal, Tom Ruiz’s, “secret” fishing spots. The lake is connected to the Kankakee River, providing it with a diverse population of fish, and most students were lucky enough to reel in at least one fish regardless of previous experience.
While many species were caught including bluegill, crappie, and catfish, students were enthralled by the large dogfish, the fight they gave when being reeled in and stories of their ability to live for long periods of time out of water. "We feel that it is important that our students gain an appreciation of nature and fishing is a great way to learn about conservation and fall in love with the outdoors," said Ms. Heather Clarkson, one of the club sponsors. Fourth grader, Addy Henry, who caught her first fish described the experience with a smile as "lots of fun and I hope we can do it again!" Addy was the first student to catch a fish for the day and ended up catching both a Crappie and a Bluegill!. Another fourth grader, Ainsley Gutjahr, caught four fish. She said, "this was super fun!"